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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

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Shelf. PA.Q.Q 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



COLUMbUS. 


BY 

HENRY PETERSON, 


Author of ''Helen,'' ''Ctrsar," ''The Modern Job,'' etc. 


CINCINNATI: 


WALTER PETERSON. 


1 S 9 3. 



Price, 25 Cents. 



COLUMBUS. 



HENRY PETERSON, 

Author of '' Helen," "C<rsar," "The Modern Job," etc. 



IN SIX ACTS. 

Act I. On the; Santa Maria. 

Act II. The Strangers from the Skies! 

Act III. The Extermination of a Race. 

Act IV. Put in Irons. 

Act V. The Triumph of "Turey!" 

Act VI. The Death of Coi^umbus. 



Copyright, 1S89, by Henry Peterson. 



CINCINNATI 
1893 



ALTER PETERSON. 2^^^/' 



/ 






PREKACK 



I have found it rather difficult to treat so large a sub- 
ject as Columbus and the discovery of America, in the 
brief and narrow limits of a drama designed for repre- 
sentation on the stage. 

If I have succeeded in giving a tolerably correct idea 
of the man and his career, of the " form and pressure" 
of his times, and of the effect of his discovery upon the 
native inhabitants of the new world, particularly upon 
those of the West Indies, it is all I hoped to accomplish. 

I have felt authorized in deviating in some degree from 
the accuracy of history, where the conventionalities, or 
the necessities of the drama required it ; or where the 
facts were too cruel and painful for any pleasure to be 
derived from their representation. 

Of course I know that, in numerous small details, a 
play can seldom be perfected until after representation. 

The Author. 



[Copyright, 1889, by Henry Peterson.] 



TO MANAGERS. 



Any adequate play of " Columbus'^ would seem to re- 
quire two scenes: 1, On the San/a Maria; 2, The Land- 
ing of Columbus. 

I have given these scenes as it would be desirable 
to have them. How far the)^ can be realized by the 
stage manager, I do not know. 

In putting the plaj- on the stage, I should have to as- 
certain what the stage manager could do — and then alter 
and amend the play to suit. So much in the way of illu- 
sion has been presented on the stage of late, that it is 
difficult to say what can or can not be done. 



THE LfiW flS TO PLAYS. 

From the Revised Statutes of V. S. 

Section 4966. Any person publicly performing or representing any dra- 
matic composition for which a copyright has been obtained, without the 
consent of the proprietor thereof, or his heirs or assigns, s/ia/t be liable for 
damages therefor ; such damages m all cases to be assessed at such sum, not 
lets than one hundred dollars for the first, and fifty dollars for every subse- 
quent performance, as to the Court shall appear to be just. 

Seetion 4%7. Every person who shall print or publish any manuscript 
■whatever, without the consent of the author or proprietor first obtained, lif 
such author or proprietor is a citizen of the United States, or resident 
therein.) shall be liable to the author or proprietor for all damages occa- 
sioned by such injury. 



CHARACTERS 



Columbus Admiral and Viceroy. 

BoBADiLLA A Spanish Governor. 

Caonabo {kd-o-na-bo) An Indian Cazique. 

Don Fernando Naval officer and Cavalier. 

Don Alphonso A young Cavalier. 

Diego A Notary, devoted to Columbus. 

Don Guzman A great traveller, 

BuTio A native Priest. 

Pedro Seaman and pett}' officer. 

Alonzo Seaman. 

Anacaona {an'-a-ka-6-7ia.) Young female Cazique, sis- 
ter of Caonabo. 
Physician, Officers, Seamen, Soldiers and Natives. 



COSTTUPvIES 



Columbus, Bobadilla, cavaliers and officers, picturesque 
old Spanish costumes, with swords. On landing, bright 
helmets and corslets. Columbus in scarlet— " richly at- 
tired in scarlet." Soldiers with bright helmets and cors- 
lets — with lances, crossbows, and arquebuses. 

Cazique {ka-zeek') bright colored cotton body suit — 
head dress of gold coronet, with variegated feathers — 
moccasins, and bands of gold around neck, wrists, etc. 

Female Cazique, shopt cotton dress, bright colors, cor- 
onet with head dress of variegated feathers, feather fan, 
moccasins, leggings, gold necklace, armlets, bracelets, 
and anklets. 

Native Priest in white dress of cotton. 

The natives had no beards. They were skillful in the 
weaving and coloring of the native cotton. They had 
low stools made of a black wood resembling ebony. 
They had sedan chairs and palanquins — and slept, etc., in 
hamacs (hammocks) of cotton, stretched between trees, 
posts, etc. 



COLUMBUS. 

By henry PETERSON. 



ACT I. 

ON THE SANTA MARIA. 

Scene. — Night. Deck of the Santa Maria. 

("The Santa Maria had four masts, two square-rigged, 
and two with lateen or triangular sails. She was decked — 
with a poop 26 feet in length, beneath which were the 
heavy guns, with smaller pieces forward. She was 90 
feet keel.") 

Sails furled. (They were afraid to sail stt night in 
those unknown seas.) Lanterns in riggitig, etc. Sailors 
in groups on forivard deck. S^nall table on poop, with open 
map on it. 

Alonzo and Pedro leave the rest of the sailors, and go 

near quarter deck (that part of deck between mainmast 

and poop.) 

Alonzo. It's about time, I think, Pedro, this thing was 
coming to an end. 

Pedro. Yes, indeed, Alonzo, — or we all will be coming 
to an end. I think, myself, the old Admiral is stark, 
raving mad. Do you know what I should not be sur- 
prised to see happen at any moment? 

Alo7i. What? Tell me, messmate. You are an old 
sailor, and have seen tenfold more than I have of the 
awful wonders of the seas. 

Ped. You know this ocean cannot go on forever. 
Everything comes to an end sometime. Is not that so? 

(5) 



b COLUMBUS. 

Alo7t. That is true. Everything must have an end. 
Nobody but a fool will deny that! 

Fed. Well — this ocean then must come to an end. We 
go sailing on — on^ — on ! and then, some dark night per- 
haps, or in broad daylight-^it makes no difference — we 
come to the end of the world ! No more ocean — no noth- 
ing! Down we go, over the edge — off! oflF! to destruction! 
— perhaps right into hell! 

Alon. Yes, that is so, messmate. That is what we are 
all thinking. 

Fed. A righteous punishment too, for allowing our- 
selves to be sent upon such a wicked errand. Has not the 
goodlvord given us old Castile — as beautiful a country as 
any man need want — and here we must go, scorning all 
his mercies, trying to hunt up some better country. As 
the priest in our village said, It is a simple flying in the 
very face of the I^ord, and no good can come out of it. 

Alo?i. The end of the world may not be an hour's sail 
off. Let us go and talk to our mates about it, and ask them 
if they are not tired of being led to destruction by a mad- 
man. I know a sailor's duty as well as anybody; but 
when the captain goes crazy, he should be put in irons. 
But here comes the Admiral, let us go forward. 

Enter from cabin, Columbus followed by Fernando. 
Columbus goes to side of vessel, a7id gases out upon the 
ocean. 

Columbus. There is the Niiia. Do you see the Pinta? 

Fernando. There she is, senor, to the South-west. 

Cohan. Ah, yes. Your young eyes, Fernando, are 
better than my old ones. 

Fer. Have you any special orders for the night; or 
for to-morrow? 

Colum. No — but stay ! Double your look-outs. All the 
signs show that we are near the land. And I feel it here 
{puts his hand to his heart) that our long voyage is nearly 
over. 

Fer. {Smiles.) I hope the present signs will prove 
more solid than the fog-bank which deceived us three 
weeks ago; and over which we all sang the Gloria in 
Excelsis. {Laughs.) 



I 



COIvUMBUS. 7 

Colum. Such illusions are sent to try our faith; and 
lioly hymns of praise are never wasted. He that endures 
to the end shall surely triumph! 

(Columbus goes to ster?i of vessel.) 

Fer. {Aside.) The old man has an indomitable spirit. 
Nothing daunts him. He always inspires me with fresh 
courage. Well, I will follow him to the last — come what 
will! We can but die. And even death would be better 
than to sail back to Castile, and be laughed at as a set of 
visionary fools. 

(Fernando ^a^(f.y quarter deck from side to side.) 

Colum. It is now seventy days since that lucky, blessed 
Friday, on which we sailed from Palos. Seventy ' Oh 
sacred and propitious number ! Surely this day shall not 
pass, before my soul shall have some token that the prom- 
ised land is near! {Goes to table, and looks at viap.) 

Judging by this map of Toscanelli's, we cannot now 
be far from the great Asiatic island of Cipango, or, as some 
call it, Japan. Then, from that island, to the wealthy 
and gorgeous mainland of Cathay, is no long voyage. I 
shall be the Admiral and Viceroy of a grand new world — 
pow given over to the Barbarian and Heathen ! And, after 
me, my son shall rule; and my son's sons. Prouder titles 
no noble on earth can have, than Admiral and Viceroy 
of the Indias! 

But not for me — not for any selfish ambition of mine — 
will all this be given. I am merely the humble instru- 
ment of Heaven ! If my coffers shall overflow with the 
gold and diamonds of India and Cathay, it is to Thee, 
oh Father and Lord above, that they must be conse- 
crated! Have I not already sworn to redeem the sepul- 
chre of the Lord from the pagan hosts? Have I not 
promised to bring the millions of Asiatic heathen into 
the fold of the true Church? And it is for this that I 
have been upheld and supported through all my heavy 
trials, until I stand, as I feel now, at the gate of an unex- 
plored world. 

{The sailors move in a body toward the quarter deck, headed 
by Pedro and Alonzo.) 

Fer. {Confronts them.) What is the meaning of this? 



8 COI^UMBUS. 

Ped. We want to speak to the Admiral. We are tired 
of all this nonsense. Are n't we, shipmates ? 

{Men respond with '' Aye ! AyeP') 

Fer. Back to your duty! Those of 3'ou who have no 
business on deck, go below! 

Ped. We mean to have a talk with the Admiral. 

Alon. Yes, we intend to have it all out now. Don't 
we, men? {Men resp07id fiercely) 

Fer. {Draws his sword.) Back to your duty! 

(Columbus comes up to the quarter deck.) 

Colum. Put up your sword, Fernando. I will hear what 
my brave seamen have to say. You, Pedro, have a good, 
tongue, and good brains above it — tell me what all this 
means. 

Ped. It means, senor, that we are tired of this wild 
goose chase after nothing. It means that we intend to 
sail back to Palos; from which we were great fools ever 
to have started. 

Colum. What ! now that we are at the very gate of the 
Indias — that land which overflows with the gold, and 
pearls, and precious stones of thousands of years! For 
the want of a little courage, will you now draw back; 
now, when your hands can almost grasp the golden prize ! 
Sail back to Palos, and meet the jeers and laughter of all 
Castile! And let other men, of greater nerve and daring, 
who will surely come after you, reap the mighty harvest! 
Then you will think, as you sit droning in your little 
cottages, how you might have made yourselves rich and 
famous — only that you were poltroons and cowards ! 

Ped. We are not cowards. We are Castilians! And 
Castile breeds no cowards! 

Cohan. That is true! So begone to Aour duty. And 
trust me that three days shall not pass before we make 
the land. 

Ped. So you said before. But it was only a fog-bank. 

{Seameii all laugh) 

Colum. You know that the first man who sights the 
land is to have 10,000 maravedis. So the Queen has or- 
dered. And I now add to that reward, a costly silken 
doublet. Keep your eyes open. We shall know soon 
who wins it. 



COLUMBUS. 9 

Ped. Oh yes, senor, that is all very well. But it 
would not improve the looks of a drowned man much, 
even to put a silken doublet on him. {Seamen la^igh.) 

Alo7i. And he won't care much for all the good things 
that 10,000 maravedis can buy him, when his stomach is 
full of salt water. {Seamen laugh again.) 

Ped. Now, look here. Admiral. We are not larned 
men; but we are not fools either. We have been talking 
over all these matters in the forecastle. — Will you an- 
swer me, and all of us, some fair questions? 
Coluni. I will try to. Go on ! 

Ped. Does anything in this world, seiior, last forever? 
Colum. No, nothing lasts forever. Therefore, we 
must soon now get done with this waste of waters, and 
come to the land. 

Ped. We sailors think we shall come to the end of the 
ocean — and then, God knows what! 

Colimi. What else can there be but land? Cipango, 
or the great continent of India; and Cathay, overflowing 
with pearls and gold! 

Ped. I am an old sailor, Admiral. When we leave 
Castile to go to India, we sail East, not West. What do 
you say, messmates — can you ever reach the far East by 
sailing to the West ? {Sailors laugh again) 

We are not eddicated men, Admiral; but we are not 
quite fools. 

Colum. No, unhappily, you are not educated; or you 
would know that the earth is round, like an orange; and 
so, if you sail West long enough, you certainly must at 
last come to the far East. 

Ped. I know rc7/ say that. But the priest of my village 
told me that it was a wicked delusion — and that I would 
bitterly repent it if I ever went with 5^ou. And he read me, 
out of the Holy Bible, how the world was first made. And 
there was not a word there about its being made round, 
like an orange. Now, if that were true, would it not have 
been told us? That would be a good deal more impor- 
tant than a lot of other things that are told us. Don't 
you think so, messmates? {Sailors laugh again) 

Colum. It is not revealed in the Bible; but the Grand 
Cardinal, and many others of the most learned Fathers, 



10 COLUMBUS. 

believe it to be the case. And this voyage of ours, if we 
persevere like brave men, and do not turn back like 
cowards, will prove it to be true. 

Ped. Well, now, say the earth is round; like this or- 
ange. ( Takes an orange out of his pocket.) We have talked 
that, too, all over in the forecastle. We are not eddicated 
men. Admiral — but we are not exactly fools. Here is 
your earth. {Holds out orange) Here we are, sailing 
along on the top of it. Here we go on, smoothly, git- 
ting nearer and nearer the edge every day, when we 
shall begin to turn and go downward. — Now it stands to 
reason that the moment we git over that edge there, we 
shall sail right off — and go down ! down ! — for all we know, 
forever! Most likely, down into hell! {To seamen) Is 
not that simple common sense, messmates? Is it not 
time we had put the ship about, while we yet have a 
chance? Perhaps it is even now so much up-hill, we 
shall never be able to sail back again ! 

Coluni. {Aside) It is impossible to answer an argu- 
ment like that. The simple truth, to ignorant men, oft 
sounds like the veriest nonsense. 

Ped. I thought, seiior, j^ou would not be able to an- 
swer such a knock-down argument. It is one of those 
things that there is only one side to, like the bottom of a 
boat. All of us men tackled it in the forecastle. Did 
we not, mates? {Seamen ?iod approvingly) 

Colum. {Aside) The Bible says: "Answer a fool, ac- 
cording to his folly." {To Pedro) Pedro, you are, as 
you say, a sensible, reasonable man. Now, being such, I 
can easily convince you that you are wrong about this 
matter. If there were any such edge and end of the 
world, would not the waters of the ocean pour down over 
it, like a great waterfall? 

Ped. Indeed, we all think so, senor. 

Colum. And if we were near any such wondrous 
waterfall, would not all the ocean around us, be stream- 
ing toward it, like a mighty mill-race? 

Ped. {Puzzled and scratching his head) So some of 
us said in the forecastle. But how then does your Ex- 
cellency explain it? 

Coliwt. The ocean flows right on, under the orange. 



COi,UMBUS. 11 

Ped. And how can that be? Why doesn't it tumble? 

Coliim. {Looks above.) You see, up above us there, 
that great solid arch of the blue sky. Magnificent! The 
Bible calls it j;he Firmament — it is so firm and solid — and 
says that it divides the waters under it from those which 
are above it — where the great rains come from. And 
there, too, you see the stars, shining in all their tran- 
scendent glory ! Now, Pedro, answer me this. Why do 
they not all, both sky and stars, tumble down here upon 
the earth? 

Ped. I own up that it puzzles me, seiior. I wonder 
often why they do not. I once thought that the moun- 
tains held the sky up, — and the sky the stars. But I have 
been on the highest peak of Tenerifie, which they say is 
three miles high, and the sky seemed just as far above us 
there, as it does here. 

Coliim. I will tell you why the sky and stars do not 
tumble down upon us. Because the Almighty Power 
that made them, and put them where they are, com- 
manded them to keep their place. And He commanded 
the ocean to keep its place also. 

{Seamen all nod assent.) 

Ped. Of course you are right. Admiral. I wonder 
we did not think of that in the forecastle. 

Colimi. And so, 3'ou see, we can go on sailing safely, 
even over and around the very edge of the globe — and 
tinder it also. 

Ped. {Shakes his head) No, no. Admiral. God put 
the ocean there, and of course it stays there. But he did 
not put us there. And we go there at our own risk. 

{The seamen shozv that they think Pedro has made a good 

point.) 

Col. Why, if the ocean is there, it is evident that we 
can sail on it. 

Ped. What! upside down? {Laughs, and shakes his 
head.) No, no, Admiral. Tell that to the marines, but 
don't expect us old sailors to believe it. 

{Seamen all laugh.) 

God, as you say, put the sky and the stars up there; 
and they do not tumble down because he told them to 



12 COLUMBUS. 

stay where they were put. But, if j'ou, Admiral, were to 
go up to the top of a mountain, or even a high tower, 
and jump off, do you mean to say that you would not 
come down like a stone? No, no, AdmiraJ, that won't 
go with us in the forecastle. Will it, messmates? 

Alon. I can answer for all of us, seiior. That idea of 
sailing upside down is too ridiculous for any man with 
common sense in his head. And, if we had any women 
aboard, it would be hardly decent. 

Colum. (A little indigfiatit.) Well, I will prove to 
you that I am correct — even if I have to sail over the 
edge of the world to do it. All that you have to do, as 
good seamen, and faithful subjects of our great King and" 
his noble Queen, is to obey your orders. I am asking 
you to go nowhere that I am not willing to go myself. 

Alon. {To seamen.) I say, men, Pedro has put it 
about as plain as the holy gospel. What do you say? 
Shall we not put the ship about this very hour? — An- 
swer, boys! Let the Admiral hear j^ou ! and know that 
you are in earnest. 

{Seamen cry '^Aye! Aye/" loudly and fiercely — ayid show 
signs of 7nuti7iy.) 

Ped. {To Admiral) Nearly all the officers are with 
us also, seiior. But, if they were not, we are able to take 
care of ourselves — and them too. 

Fer. {To Columbus) Shall I summon the other offi- 
cers, and see if they will do their duty? 

Colum. No, it would be useless. Besides, they are. 
most of them, also disaffected. {To seamen) Give me 
three days more. Then, if we have not found land, I 
promise to return. (^'Nol no!'' fro7n the crew) 

Ped. In one day more, to return may be impossible. 
We are true and faithful seamen. Admiral; but we are 
not bound by our duty to obey a crazy captain. {Aside 
to Alonzo) Half-a-dozen of you must rush up, grapple 
him, and, in the scuffle, accidentally throw him overboard. 
It is better that one crazy fool should drown, than that a 
hundred sensible men should be whirled over the edge 
of the world mto hell ! 

Colum. {Earnestly) Give me this one night more. 



COLUMBUS. 13 

If the morrow's sun does not show you the land, I will 
return. {"JVo/ no! no!'' frovi the crew) 

{Meteors are seen in the air, and 07ie falls into the sea a 
short dista?ice from the shipf^ 

Fed. See there! that fiery thunderbolt from Heaven, 
menaces us with the wrath of the Lord, if we sail any 
further. It is madness not to take such a warning. 
We men have got to the very end of our rope, Admiral. 
Order the ship about! 

Coliim. That fiery arrow rather was a warning to 
you, who are rebelling against your captain and your 
Queen ! 

Alon. {To seameti.) Let us trifle no longer! 

(Alonzo and three others go on the poop, and stand oppo- 
site Columbus. Fernando steps between them, ayid 
draws his szvord.) 

Fer. The first man that touches the Admiral, dies! 
Shame on 3'ou! An old man, too! 

Coliwi. {Imploringly) Five minutes more, and I will 
decide. 

Ped. Give him five minutes, mates. 

Colum. {Looks up to Heaven?) Oh, Thou, who for 
sixty years hast been my stay and guide, and brought me 
safely to this great day of Destiny, be with me now! 
Give me some token of Tky will ! The fate of the world, 
and of coming ages may be hanging on this hour! 
{Walks to the side of the vessel, and gazes over the ocean) 
(Alonzo and seamcyi come 7iearer. Fernando still keep- 
ing between them and the Admiral) 
{A faint light is seen ifi the distance) 

Cohim. {With fervor) Oh, Lord! I thank Thee! {Ex- 
citedly) Look there! Look! It is the land! Do you 
not see it? Thank Thee, oh Lord, I thank Thee ! 

Fer. Yes. It is a torch. I see it! 

Alon. I do not .see any light. 

{Light groic's larger and brighter) 

Ped. I see it now! It moves along, as if it were 

-'On the 15th a meteor fell within five lengths of the Admiral's ship."— 
Irving' s '^Cohintbus." 



14 COLUMBUS. 

carried in a procession to the Virgin. Yes, Admiral, you 
are right. It is the land! 

i^^Iseeit!'" '' I see it !'' from seamen. It is the layid 1 — the 

land!) 

Colum. Yes, it is Cathay, or the ludias, at last! It is 
the Light in the East now shining in the West! Your 
fortunes are all made, you foolish, faithless men ! Back 
to your duties ! 

{Seamen go down from the poop — and begin to go to fore 
part of ship.) 

{The report of a canrion is heard.) 

Colum. It is the signal gun from the Pinta. The}- 
see it, tool Men, our long voyage is over ! Let us for- 
get all that is unpleasant in this night's work, and re- 
member only its glorious ending! Let all who wish to — 
and can — sleep soundly till the morning. But I judge 
that not one eye will close this night. I think that I 
myself have the best right to the silken doublet, and the 
ten thousand maravedis; but I will hand them over to 
you, Pedro. 

Ped. Not a bit of it, Admiral. Fair play is fair play ! 
Your own sharp eyes first saw the light. Did they not, 
messmates? 

Alon. Aye ! that they did. — ( Tj sailors.) Three cheers, 
my boys, for our grand old Admiral ! 

{Sailors give three cheers) 

Colum, Thank you, my men I And now let us sing — 
as is our nightly custom — the praises of the Almighty. 
Let us rejoice that all our trials and perils seem to be 
over ; and that the land is found. 

They sing the '■ Venite Exultemus Domino^' as folhncs: — 

"Oh come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us heartily 
rejoice in the strength of our salvation. ... 

"In his hands are all the corners of the earth; and the 
strength of the hills is his also. 

"The sea is his, and he made it; and his hands pre- 
pared the dry land. 

"Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let 
the whole earth stand in awe of him. 



COLUMBUS. 15 

" For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the world, and 
the people with his truth!" 

End of Act I. 

Note.— The crew had sung on a previous occasion, when a cloud-bank was 
mistaken for land, the "Gloria in Excelsis." 

Irving says: "In the evenings, it was the invariable custom on the Ad- 
miral's ship, to sing the Salve Regina. or Hymn to the Virgin." 

It was also the custom of other Spanish and Portugese voyagers, to have 
hymns sung when they made discoveries, etc. 

It was a deeply religious, bigoted, avaricious, and cruel age. 



ACT II. 

THE STRANGERS FROM THE SKIES. 

Scene. — Beautiftd landscape — gree?t old forest, R afid L — 
' 'gree?i down nearly to the edge ofzc 'ater. ' ' Ocea n , with dis- 
tant vessels t^/CoLUiMBUS. Sa?ita Maria nearest. Large 
tree L, on point of land jutting into the ocean. 

Enter procession of natives, headed by BuTio — frst me7i, 
and then maidens, singing, and waving leaves and botcgks 
of palm, etc. They range themselves R and L. 

Meyi {sing.) 

1. Who come from out the East, 

With their great wings of white? 
Who come from out the Ea,st, 

In their glory and their might? 
Are they the Eagle gods, 

Down swooping in their flight ? 

Maidens {sing.) 

2. They come from out the sky, 

From the blue heaven above; 
Sea trembles as they fly — 

Come they in wrath or love? 
Greet them with songs of praise, 

That they may come in love! 



16 COLUMBUS. 

Enter Cazique Caonabo and his sister Anacaona, the 
latter in litter {or 20icoverid palanquin) borne by 4 
natives. Bearers put down palanquin C. ^v'^io comes 
forzvard. Caonabo meets /mn, and gazes over the ocea?i. 

Caonabo. {To Butio.) It is, Father,* as our young 
men have told us. This is a wonderful sight ! Are 
those great birds — flown hither from the skies — which 
bear men under their wings? For these e3'es of mine, 
which once were as the eagle's, see clearly the forms of 
men moving about them. 

Butio. These, no doubt, great Cazique, are strangers 
from the skies.f In the far sunset land where I was 
born, the mighty Incas, centuries ago, came to them from 
the sun. They taught the people how to build great 
temples, and how to weave cotton and wool ; and how to 
fashion that yellow metal, Turey, into beautiful shapes 
like this. {Touches a golden bracelet 07i the Cazique' s 
wrist.) These visitors of ours doubtless also are children 
of the sun. That curious thunder last night, out of a 
clear sky, announced them. 

Caon. Then they mean us good — not harm? 

But. Most certainly ! The great gods are powerful; 
and, because they are so powerful, they are always pit- 
iful ! {Looks at Caonabo.) 

But your sister wishes to speak to us. {Goes to An- 
acaona, a?id assists her from palanquin. They join Ca- 
onabo.) 

Aiiacaona. {To Butio.) Are you certain these won- 
derful strangers mean us good? 

But. Such mighty, wonderful birds of the sea, my 
child, can only be from the mighty sky land. Perhaps, 
like the wise and good Incas, they come from that great 
god, the sun. How then could they mean us harm? 

Ana. {Sadly.) You must be right, good Father. But 
you know the sad tradition of our race: That the day 
will come, when a band of strangers from the sea, shall 



" The Spaniards were greatly surprised at hearing the native priests caUed 
by the Indian word which signified Father. But this custom is almost as old 
and general as the existence of the priestly class. 

t Irving says that the belief among the natives, that the strangers came 
from the skies was universal— Z.?/<? of Columbus. 



COLUMBUS. 17 

visit us like the evening hurricane* which comes after 
the afternoon of beauty. They shall bring with them 
the lightning and the thunder, and shall blast our beau- 
tiful land with pestilence and famine! You, of course, 
have heard the legend, Father? 

But. I know it well, my daughter. 

Caon. {Fiercely.) Then what are we doing here? 
They may be worse than the Caribs. Why not call all 
our people, from near and far, to resist these strangers — 
be they from the skies, or from the under-world? In- 
stead of songs of welcome, let us beat our drums, and 
blow our conch-shells! It is not too late yet, wise 
Father. We soon can find our bows and our spears. 

Bzit. The old tradition says, when they come, they 
will conquer ! If it be true that they will come, then it 
also will be true that, armed with the thunder and light- 
ning of the Gods, we shall be powerless to resist them. 
Let us have faith in the great Gods that rule the heavens 
and the earth — in Pa-cha-ca-mac and in Rimac! They 
reward the good ; and they punish only the wicked. 

Ana. Those last words, wise Father, lighten my heart. 
These strangers from the skies will not bring affliction 
and sorrow, except to the cruel and the wicked. The 
mighty gods that rule the heavens would not allow it! 
And in your many wanderings, in many nations, good 
Father, did you ever see a kinder and more gentle people 
than this that Caonabo and myself rule over? 

But. {Fervently }t Never ! sweet Princess ! If there 
is a peaceful, happy, and perfectly contented people on 
the earth, it is on these beautiful islands. Surely the 
blessings of the great Gods in the skies, must attend them 
forever ! 

Caon. Yes, you are right, Father. Our people are a 
good people. All have plenty, and no man wishes to do 
wrong, or to harm his neighbor. — No doubt the sad tra- 
dition of our race will come true some da^- — but it will be 
when we have become cruel and selfish and wicked, like 
the Caribs, who so frequently attack us. 

Ana. {Cheerfully.) Yes, brother, it cannot be other- 

*The original native word " furican " seems better. 



18 COLUMBUS. 

wise. If we are true to the lessons of the Gods, they will 
be true to us. The dark cloud is lifted from my soul ; 
and I can now welcome these strangers from the skies 
with songs and rejoicings. 

Caon. lyook! They are coming! 

{Boats put off front the Santa Maria, full of men with 
flags, etc) 

(Anacaona to Biitio) L,et us welcome them with a 
song of greeting. 

{Buiio goes to natives, and they sing while the boats are 
approaching) 

Song. 

They come ! they come ! they come ! 

The children of the skies! 
How bright and beautiful, 

They seem to mortal eyes. 
So bright, so beautiful. 

They must be good and wise! 

{Repeat if necessary) 
Etiter boats containing Columbus, ''richly attired in scar- 
let'' Fernando, Alphonso, Diego, Pedro, Alonzo, 
soldiers and sailors. 
Columbus bears the royal sta^idard of Castile. Diego, 
Fernando and Alphonso each with banner with a 
green cross. In shilling armor, with swords, showy scarfs, 
etc. 
On landing they all kneel, and kiss the groimd, with maiii- 
festations of great feeling. 

Colum. {Rising, draws his sword, and gently waves his 
flag) I take possession of all this land, in the name and 
right of the crown of Castile ! And I name it the West 
Indias ! {Sheathes sword, and hands flag to soldier) 

(BuTiO and Caonabo go to greet the strangers) 

But. Hail, mighty strangers ! Welcome ! 

{Puts his hand on his head, ayid bows humbly) 

Colum. {Also bows) We are strangers; and need food 
and water. 



COLUMBUS. 19 

But. The name of stranger, even to us mortal men, 
is a sacred name. {Tunis to Caonabo.) 

This is our great Cazique, Caonabo. His hand is al- 
ways open ; and it is never empty ! 

Caon. [To Columbus.) Great Cazique! You wear the 
shining colors of the sun. Are you the children of the 
sun; and from the skies? 

Colum. We come to teach you how to gain the skies. 

Cao7i. What! will you take us back with you? 
(Columbus takes from his bosom a small figure of the Sa- 
viour on the cross — which he holds up to him.) 

Colum. Believe in him, our Lord! and you shall go 
with us to the eternal heavens ! 

Caon. {foy fully.) You will then take us all back with 
you? 

Colum. Yes — when you die. 

Caon. {Disappointed) Oh, of course we expect to 
go there then, if we are good, and not wicked — if we 
speak the truth, and do not steal. Our good priest here, 
Father Butio, has always told us that. 

Colum. Your priest has told yoii falsely. {To Diego) 
Diego, take this poor benighted priest aside, and explain 
tc him that no matter how good he and his people are, 
they can never go to heaven, unless they are baptized 
into the one true faith. 

But. You are great and wise beings. Perhaps I have 
been teaching my children falsely. I would gladly learn 
a wiser and better faith froin you, the children of the 
sun. 

Diego. {To Butio) Our religion of the skies is a 
very simple one. I can soon explain it to you. Come 
aside here a few minutes. 

Diego and BuTio go L. and converse. 

Colum. {To Caonabo) I suppose we shall have no 
difficulty in finding fresh water somewhere near here. 

Cao7i. Pardon me! I had forgotten, in these greater 
matters, that you said that you needed food and water. 
Splendid children of. the skies! it seems curious that you 
should need anything that we poor mortals can supply. 
But it is all so strange. Let me know more fully what 
you and your people require — and I will order them 



20 COLUMBUS. 

brought to you. As for the fresh water, there is a little 
stream just below here. Come this way a few steps, and 
I will show it to you. 

{Exeunt Caonabo and Columbus R) 
Fed. ( To seame7i.) lyCt us go over there, mates, and 
see if the ornaments on those heathen women are real 
gold, or only common brass ones. 

{Seamen miyigle with the natives.) 

(Fernando a;z^/ALPHONSO come forward — after handing 
their bayiners to soldiers.) 

Per. ( To Alphonso.) Do you see that beautiful creat- 
ure? Some Indian Princess, I suppose. 

Al. I saw her before we landed. She is an Indian 
bird that I would like to cage. And, by the holy Virgin, 
I mean to do it. 

Fer. Two can play at that game, Alphonso. Let us 
go and speak to her. {They go to the palanquin) 

Fer. Beautiful princess! I salute you. {Bows) 

Al. Bright star of the Indias! I am your devoted ser- 
vant! {Botes) 

Ana. Are 3'ou from the skies? 

Fer. No ! by the Virgin ! Are you ? 

A)ia. You jest, bright strangers. — Are all the young 
men of the skies as beautiful as you are ? 

Fer. {Aside. To Alphonso) What shall I say, Al- 
phonso ? {Langhs) 

Al. Oh, she is not thinking of me. All her eyes are 
on you. 

Fer. {To Anacaona) They think they are. — But I do 
not jest, fair princess, when I swear my eyes never be- 
held so glorious a being as you are. 

Al. {Aside) When a man has been two months at 
sea, the fifst pretty woman he meets looks like an angel. 

Ayia. Are not the women of the skies a hundred times 
more beautiful than any earthly woman? 

Fer. As I never, beautiful princess, have had the 
pleasure of seeing any of the women of the skies, I re- 
ally have no clear idea of how beautiful the}^ are. 

Al. {To Fernando) If the angels are more beautiful 
than she is, the saints are in luck, Fernando. 



COLUMBUS. 21 

A?ia. You say that you are not the children of the 
sun, and from the skies — where then do you come from? 

J^er. (Aside to A/p/ionso.) What shall I say, Alphonso ? 

AL {Aside to Fernando.) You were a fool to own up 
that we did not come from the skies. We could have 
done anything with her while she believed that. 

Fer. {Aside to Alphonso) Oh, we cavaliers of Castile 
are not very good hands at Ij'ing. 

{To Anacaona.) It is rather a long story; let us go 
under the shade of that tree, and sit down. {They go L.) 
{Pedro drags a pretty native womaii forward, and the other 
seamen and natives aceo7tipa?iy them.) 

Fed. Where is that basket of valuable Castilian orna- 
ments? Bring it here, Alonzo. 

(Alonzo comes forward with the basket.) 
Fed. {To natives.) Here are your magnificent orna- 
ments from the cities of the sky. See this! you beauti- 
ful, wise, and altogether extraordinary heathen! 

{He takes out a little brass bell, and rings it.) 
{Natives manifest great delight and admiration?) 
Native woman. Give it to me! oh, give it to me! 
' Other women and men. Give it to me! 
(Anacaona stops conversi^ig, and stands np, and looks on, 
with great surprise and i^iterest. Fernando and Al- 
phonso also look on anmsed) 

Fed. {Handing out small bells, and strings of glass 
beads of various colors to the natives, who commence ring- 
ing the bells, and putting the beads around their necks) 
Here they are! strings of valuable rubies, emeralds, to- 
paz, and diamonds that we have brought from the skies 
expressly for j-ou benighted heathen of the Indias. 

Native ivoman. {Exatnines and smells a bell) Is it 
turey-'9 This is our turey. {Hands a bracelet to Fedro) 
But our turey does not sing so sweetly as the turey of 
the skies. 

(Pedro takes bracelet, and exajnines it) 
Fed. {To Alonzo) Real, genuine gold, as I'm a sin- 
ner ! 

■■Native name for gold. 



Z-1 COLUMBUS. 

{To 2voman.) No, your turey cannot sing, as ours does. 
It is a very inferior article. {Slyly slips bracelet into his 
pocket) 

{Natives crozvd around Pedro, and offer their golden 
bands, plates of gold, etc., for the bells and beads.) 

Native woman. {Smells beads.) Not turey! 

Fed. Better than turey! Emeralds, rubies, pearls, 
topaz, diamonds! 

{Aside.) Good Lord, what an ignorant set of savages. 
They deserve to be burnt up forever. 

Ana. {To Fernando.) They are beautiful. 

(Fernando brings her a bell, and several strings of the 

beads.) 
Ana. {Tinkles the bell.) How sweet your turey sounds. 
It is like the sound of the water running over the peb- 
bles {Examines beads.) And these are beautiful ! They 
must be very precious. 
{She takes off a heavy gold band, and haiids it to Fer>ia?ido.) 

This is not much, compared to such valuable jewels 
from your own far land, — but take it. 

Fer. {Declini)ig them.) Oh, no — I give them to you. 

Ana. I know it is not much return for such beautiful 
presents 

{To Alphonso.) You take it then. 

Al. Thank you, beautiful princess ! I shall always 
keep it for your sake. 

Fer. {Aside to Alphonso) That was a mean thing to 
do. 

Al. {Aside to Fernando) You are insulting, seiior. 
But I pardon you, in view of your loss of at least fifty 
golden ducats. 

{Diego comes forward) 

Diego. Pedro, be careful of those trinkets; and of 
what you receive in exchange. They all belong, you 
know, to the Admiral. 

Fed. {Aside) Oh, blast the Admiral ! 

{To Diego) Aye, aye, seiior. I will be very careful 
of them. {Aside) Especially of that gold band in my 
pocket. I didn't come all the way out here for nothing. 



COLUMBUS. 23 

( To Diego, pickhig tip a large, rusty spike) The Ad- 
miral doesn't own this, does he? 

{To a native) Here is something curious. I'll bet 
you never saw iron before. It is an immensely valuable 
metal.* 

{Native takes the spike, while others come around and ex- 
amine it — all S7nelling it) 

Native. {To Pedro) Not turey. 

Ped. No, indeed — better than turey — stronger! 

{He takes spike, and tics a cord to it, for hanging around 
the neck) 

{Native takes off heavy gold band, and gives it to Pedro — 
who hangs the spike around the Indian's neck) 

Ped. {To Indian) Now, you look like a great Span- 
ish Don ! {Aside) Don-key I mean. 

{bidian stmts off proudly — ivhile the sailors langh) 

Ped. {To Diego) I suppose the Admiral won't claim 
this too. That was my own precious, rusty iron spike — 
and my own valuable cord too. {Puts the gold band i?ito 
his pocket) 

Di. You may keep it. But I will have no more of 
this. Everything belongs to the Admiral. 

Alon. {To Pedro) You are a deuced lucky fellow, 
Pedro. 

Ped. No, it is not luck. It is my genius. A great 
merchant was spoiled, when I was made a sailor. 

Di. {To Pedro) Did you not volunteer on this ex- 
pedition to get out of prison ? 

Ped. That is nothing against my genius, seiior. 
Sometimes a great genius for business gets a man into 
prison, just about the time he is going to make his for- 
tune. 

Di. Well, take care it does not happen again. 

{Natives enter bearing a large wooden tray, containing 
bayianas, pineapples, etc. Other natives bring wicker 
baskets full of cassava and maize loaves, ears of maize, 
etc., which they take doivn to the boats) 

Enter Caonabo ««d^ Columbus, and come forward. 

'■■' Based on a real incident. 



24 COLUMBUS. 

Caon. Great Cazique of the white men, these are for 
you and your people. {He takes hvo bana7ias, and hands 
one of them to Columbus) 

Cohim. Thank you, generous Caonabo — I shall not 
forget your kindness. 

( To Diego.) Diego, distribute these among our people. 
{Diego hands fr7iits to the whites and the natives.) 
(Fernando hands a banana to Anacaona, who begins 
eating it.) 

Fed. ( To Alonzo.) These heathen are not such very 
bad fellows after all ; though they have not a particle of 
genius for business. {Looks back.) But what is that 
fellow doing? Is he trying to burn himself up before his 
time? 

{An Indian comes forward with a hnge 7iative cigar, a thing 
unknown theyi in Etirope. He is smoking it.) 
India^i. Goes to Pedro, lights another cigar, and hafids 
it.) Tabaco — good! very good! 

(Columbus and all look at Pedro.) 
Ind. Make much happy ! much happy ! 
Alon. {To Pedro.) Try it, messmate. It can't more 
than kill you. 

Di. Don't be a coward, Pedro. Tell us what it tastes 
like. 

Ind. Tabac! good, very good! Make happy, much 
happy ! 

Ped. { Takes cigar.) It seems to me, if you are all so 
very brave, you might try it yourselves. But I always 
have to do what every body else is afraid to do. I did n't 
come out here to the other side of the world, to make a 
blamed volcano of myself. 

{Puts end of cigar into his month.) 
Ind. In — out — plenty of breath! like this! 

Indian emits a great \olume of smoke) 
Ped. {Imitates him, U7itil he is half stifled — the7i fli7igs 
the cigar on the ground) Blast it! that's enough! phew! 
it chokes a Yellow. ( To seamen) Trj' it on yourselves ! 

(Seamen laugh) 
Ind. Good! very good! — make you happy! 

{Picks up cigar, and hands it agai7i) 



COLUMBUS. 25 

Ped. {Ptishcs it atvay.) Oh, go to the devil with it! 
{Puts hand on his stomach) I feel in here like a volcano 
already. If any of you fellows want to try it, here it is. 
( Takes cigar, and offers it to Alonzo who refuses it. Hands 
it around; but all laugh aiid decline.) A damnable set of 
cowards ! 

{Puts both hands to stomach) 

Yes, I feel like a seething volcano ! And soon there '11 
be an eruption! 

{Rushes out L., zchile all, both whites and natives, roar 'vith 
laughter) 

Caon. {To Columbus) It never affects us that way. 
But then we learn to smoke the tabaco, when we are lit- 
tle children. 

Colum. We have nothing like it in our own bright 
land. What good does it do you? 

Cao7i. It soothes and comforts the soul like a breeze 
from the land of dreams! Is it possible that in the skies, 
where you have all that is delightful, you have no ta- 
baco? 

Colum. I never before saw or heard of such a curious 
thing. 

Per. {To Anacaona) And do you, fair princess, also 
smoke the tabaco? 

Ana. {With disgust) No! never! It is a vile weed. 
I hate even the smell of it. 

Per. {Aside to her) If you dislike it so much then, I 
shall never touch it. 

Al. {Aside.) When a man gets over his head in love, 
he will promise anything. But as to keeping his prom- 
ise, that is another matter entirely ! {Shrugs his shoul- 
ders) 

(Columbus goes to Diego, who has taken charge of the 
basket ccntaining the golderi adornments obtained from 
the natives — and looks i?ito basket) 
Colum. A good morning's work, Diego. {Smiles) 
Di. {Lifts the basket — estimating its weight atid value) 

Just feel the weight of it, Admiral! Pure gold too! No 

alloy ! 

Colum. {Also lifts the basket, estimating its value) Why 



26 COLUMBUS. 

this will go far towards paying the cost of the whole ex- 
pedition. Keep a good watch on the men, that they do 
not steal any of it. 

Caon. ( Who has been 7vatching them with wo7ider. To 
Columbus.) The great Cazique delights to have turey? 
Have they no turey then in the skies? 

Colum. Oh, we have a great deal of it in our own 
beautiful land. 

Caon. Why then do you want more? 

Cohan. We cannot have too much. We cannot live 
without it. ■ ' 

Caon. Do you eat it? 

Colum. {Smiles.) Oh no — we do not eat it. 

Caon. Do you make clothes of it? 

Colum. No — it is too precious with us to make clothes 
of. 

Caon. You build your houses of it, I suppose. 

Colum. No — it is much too precious for that. 

Cao7i. If you can neither eat it, nor make clothes of 
it, nor build your houses with it, why is it so very pre- 
cious to you? 

(Columbus hesitates — a7id looks at Diego.) 

Di. {Laughs.) Well, I'll be blamed if I know, Ad- 
miral. 

Ped. {Aside to Diego.) Tell the damned ignorant 
heathen that it is because we worship it as a god. He 
will understand that perhaps. 

(Caonabo looks in surprise and inquiringly, from one to 
the other of the ivhite men — who are all sm,iling or 
laughing}) 

Di. {To Columbus) Do tell him something. Admi- 
ral ; or the stupid heathen will think we white men are a 
set of fools. 

Colum. This is a great mystery, Caonabo, which it 
would require many moons to explain to you. This turey 
is nothing to you, save as a pretty ornament. With us, 
it is a wizard, who brings us every thing we want! 

Coan. One of your gods ? 

Colum. Well, perhaps that is the nearest I can come 



COLUMBUS. 27 

to making it clear to your benighted mind. But we 
have realh- only one God whom we worship. 

Cao7i. Turey is a very pretty thing — but ive care 
nothing for it. If we gave it all to you who value it so 
greatly, we should have just as much to eat and drink 
and wear as we have now. 

( Takes off his gold bracelets, etc. ; and throws thevi into 
the basket co)itemptuo2isly.) 

Here, Ture}-, go to those who worship you ; and can- 
not live without you ! 

Colum. Thank you ! thank you ! You are a magni- 
ficent Cazique ! 

{To Diego) No doubt we are coming near to old 
Cathay itself — where even the streets are paved with 
gold! 

(Columbus picks up the bracelets, etc.; and Di^GO, Fer- 
nando, Alphonso, etc., gather around the basket, ex- 
amining its C071 tents.) 

Caofi. {Goes to Anacaona) One word with you, my 
sister. {Aside to her.) How do you like these strangers? 
How great — yet how little — they seem ! 

Ana. They make a god of turey. How strange ! 

Caon. Yes, they worship turey ! Yet they come from 
the skies! 

Ana. They do not come from the skies. There is one 
among them who might have come from the skies; but 
he confessed to me that they did not. I will tell you all 
to-morrow. They have lied to you. I do not like them. 
But I am afraid of them ! 

Caon. They seem to me so far not to be dreaded. 

Alia. I remember the tradition — and I fear them! 
I remember last night's strange thunder! 

Caon. Those we have learned to fear, will destroy us 
with the thunder and lightning of the skies. These may 
be the children of the sun, but they seem to me too fond 
of our little ornaments of turey, to be able to command 
the thunderbolts of the great gods. 

Ana. Can you not find that out? If they cannot, I 
shall no longer fear them. If they can, I shall feel in 
my heart that we are doomed ! 



28 COLUMBUS. 

Caon. I will put them to the test. Yes, that will de- 
cide it. 

(Caonabo rejoins Columbus.) 

Caon. Great Cazique of the sun-lands ! we have an 
old tradition from our fathers, that when the children of 
the skies shall some day come down to visit us, they will 
prove their sacred origin by being able to command at 
will the lightning and the thunder! 

Cohim. That is so ! I can command at will the light- 
ning and the thunder ! It is with these that we destroy 
our enemies. 

Caon. {Alarmed, but incredulous) Can it be possible? 

Cohan. Would you like to see the proof of my power? 
And how dangerous it is to be an enemy of the white 
children of the skies? 

Caon. But, great Cazique, all here are your friends. 
You have no enemies here. 

Colum. It is well for you I have not. 
(Columbus looks seaward, and points to a large tree, 

standing by itself, to the extreme L., on a little peninsula 

tvhich juts into the sea.) 

Colum. {In a loud, commandijig tone) You see that 
lone tree, Caonabo. Suppose that tree should proclaim 
itself an enemy of mine. I would blast it with my 
thunderbolts. Now, mark! 
(Columbus takes a small flag, and goes towara sea — the 

natives shrinking back R. and /,.) 
(Caonabo, Anacaona awfl'BuTio take central positions — 

lookifig towards the distant vessels and the tree) 
(Columbus gently zvaves his flag — and an anszvering sig- 
nal is seen on the Santa Maria) 

Colum. Now, mark my lightnings and my thunders! 
{He waves the flag three times) 

One! two! three! — Fire! 

{Three camions are discharged, o?ie after the other. Two 
of the balls strike the tree, and tumble doic^i into the 
water. The upper half of the tree is shattered) 

{The sailors give a loud huzza. The natives cry otit -with 
terror, and some of them fall on the ground) 



COLUMBUS. 29 

Cohan. {To Caonabo.) You see I am the lord of the 
thunder and the lightning! 

Caon. I am like the dust at the feet of my great lord 1 
Oh my country! my people! 

A7ia. {Covers her face zvith her hands) They have 
come! We are doomed ! 

But. Oh, great and terrible gods of the skies, have 
pity upon us — for we have done no wrong! 

P^ND OF Act II. 



B®°" After an Interval of Some Years. 

ACT III. 

THE EXTERMINATION OF A RACE. 

Scene. — Indian village — ''high, circular pavilions, con- 
structed of trunks of trees, branches and reeds, and 
thatched with palm leaves — very clean and neat — and 
sheltered under trees'' Caonabo's house and Ana- 
CAONA's house front R and L. 

Natives lounging about, or sitting on ''stools of a black 
colored wood like ebony — or reclijiing iyi hamacs {ham- 
mocks) of cotton.'" A scene of languid coiitentedness. 

Enter BuTio. 

But. You must be off to the fields, my children. It 
is late. 

Ind. In the old times, Father, we went to work when 
we pleased, and stopped when we pleased. And there 
always was enough for everybody. 

Btd. Yes; but things are different now. You know 
that now we have to pay a monthly tribute to the white 
Governor. 

Ind. Who made him Governor over usf We have 
our own Cazique. We were living peacefully and hap- 



30 COLUMBUS. 

pily in this land that our fathers and the good gods gave 
us. What right have these white men here? 

Bid. The right of the strongest, my son. It is all in 
vain to resist them. They have enlisted the fierce ani- 
mals of other lands in their service. They have stolen 
the thunder and lightning of the heavens. 

Ind. Better to resist, and die at once, than to live the 
life of slaves. 

Bid. Perhaps so. But, after we men are dead, what 
is to become of our wives and children? Is not ni}^ 
counsel wiser: Wait in patience, and see if the holy 
Powers of the skies will not interfere in our behalf? 

Ind. It is hard waiting. 

But. Not so hard for you, as for your brethren. 
Your noble Cazique has so far succeeded in keeping you 
out of the dark and dreary mines, and from toiling in the 
white man's fields. 

Ind. It is true, good Father. Our lot is far happier 
than that of our brethren. 

But. Go then patiently and contentedly to your la- 
bor — that the tribute may be ready at the appointed 
time. Nightly do I invoke the gods in your behalf. And 
last night I prayed to the unknown God, in whose tem- 
ple I served when I was a boy in great Mexitli.* Go ! 
and be patient and trusting. 

{Exeunt Indians s/oivly and mournfully^ 

But. The new thunderbolt may fall at any moment. 
Poor, thoughtless people, who lament thus over their 
lengthened hours of toil. They do not know how thou- 
sands of their brethren are dying monthly in the mines 
and fields, worn out by the exactions of their cruel 
task-masters. Oh the lashes and tortures that I have 
seen! And it may be their turn soon! { With deep emo- 
tion})^ 

{Looks R) But here comes the Princess. 

'■■ Mexitli — Aztec name of Mexico. See account of temple to " the unknown 
God " in Prescott's ^'Conquest of Mexico.'' 

tThe good priest L,as Casas gives a teirible picture of the hardships, cru 
cities and starvation to which the natives were subjected. Mothers killed 
their children in despair. In less than twelve years, several liundred thou- 
sand perished. The facts are too horrible for the drama. Their place is 
history. 



COI^UMBUS. 31 

Enter Anacaona. 

Ana. ( With emotion) What shall I do, good Father, 
to save my brother and my people? 

But. Don Fernando is the nobler; but Don Alphonso 
is the more powerful. Perhaps Don Alphonso might be 
able to save us. 

Ana. I — hate — him ! 

Btit. {Calmly) I supposed so. 

A7ia. Ought I to give myself to a man whom I hate? 

But. Under ordinary circumstances, certainly not. — 
Will he marry you? 

Ana. Yes — what we call marriage. 

Bid. To him and his people that would be nothing. 
He would throw you aside any time he happened to tire 
of you. Will he marry you by the white man's mar- 
riage? 

Ana. None of their priests would solemnize such a 
marriage. 
> Btit. Ah! 

Ana. Unless I gave up our sacred religion, Father, 
and embraced theirs. 

But. Horrible! It is not to be thought of The re- 
ligion of those who are daily robbing and murdering us ! 

Ana. Yes. Better die! all of us die! 

But. And the other — young Don Fernando? 

Ana. Oh, he is true and noble. He will do anything 
for me. It is his influence that so far has shielded us. 

But. He is a noble cavalier, as you say. But he is a 
man. He will want his reward. Will he marry you ? 

Ana. {Proudly) Yes! 

But. How? 

Ana. By the customs of our people. You shall marry 
us, Butio. 

But. But 3'ou said you would not marry Don Al- 
phonso in that way. 

Ana. Of course not. That is different. Don Fer- 
nando loves me. He will be true to me — no matter what 
the marriage rites are. 

Btit. Perhaps so — but he too is only a man. 

Ana. "Only a man!" He is tenfold a man! He is 



3J COLUMBUS. 

truth itself. He told me he was of the blood of the great 
Caziques of Castile. "Only a man !" 

But. {Smiles.) Of course there is a great difference 
between them. But the party he belongs to is growing 
weaker every day. The party of greed and cruelty, who 
have no pity, is daily gaining power — even over the great 
Admiral Cazique himself. 

A?ia. He says that if I will be baptized by one of their 
priests, and niarrj' him by their rites, he can save me, 
and my brother, and my people! 

But. And if you refuse? 

Ajia. He can save vie. 

But. And your brother? 

Ana. If he will be baptized, he can save him. Be- 
come a Christian. 

But. And your people? 

A7ia. If they will be baptized, he can save them. 

But. And I, the priest of your father? 

Ana. If you will be baptized, he can save you. Be- 
come a Christian. 

But. And he and you think it is best that we should 
desert the good gods whom our fathers taught us to wor- 
ship, to save our homes and our lives from these merci- 
less strangers? 

A7ia. You asked the extent of Don Fernando's power, 
Father. I have told 3'ou. As for me, I shall live and 
die with my Father's gods, and my people ! 

But. Nobly said!— and like a true daughter of your 
ancient race! — Will I find Caonabo in the council cham- 
ber? 

Ana I think so. 

But. I have some more bad news for you. But I 
must tell him first. I will see you again shortly. 

(Exit Butio) 

Ana. " Bad news!" Alas, that is never done coming! 

Enter Fe;rnando. 

Fer. M}' beautiful rose of the Indias! {Embraces her) 
But I wrong you by comparing you to any flower. There 
is no flower that is half so beautiful ; and none that has 
so sweet and musical a name, Anacaoua! 



COLUMBUS. 33 

A7ia. I know a name far more beautiful. 

Fer. Oh, no, there is none such ; not even in your 
own musical tongue. 

Ajia. Oh, yes, there is. One far more beautiful than 
mine. 

Fer. What is it? 

A7ia. Fernando! 

Fer. It does sound strangely melodious thus coming 
from your lips. May that sweet melodj^ soon be always 
near me ! 

Ayia. I have been talking with Father Butio. Per- 
haps what you say can never be. 

Fer. I hope Butio will not set himself against me. 
My friends are losing power; and I must have a stronger 
hold upon you, to enable me any longer to protect you 
and yours. Think that you are in the rapids, and that 
before you is the cataract. 

A?ia. A Princess is never ashamed of her word. I 
said I would marry you, whenever it became necessar>'. 
Has the time come? 

Fer. My beautiful, noble Princess! The time has 
fully come. And Father Antonio will soon be here to 
perform the sacred rites. 

A7ia. Father Antonio? 

Fer. I would for myself as lief have Butio. But it 
is necessary for the safet)^ of all of you, that you should 
be my legal Christian wife. 

Ana. And that means that I am to desert the religion 
of my father and my mother? 

Fer. It means that you will do what has become nec- 
essary to save the homes and the lives of yourself, your 
brother, and your people. 

Ana. Would you give up the religion of your father 
and your mother, to save the homes and the lives of 
yourself, 5'our brother and your people? 

Fer. But that is different. Ours is the true religion. 

A7ia. Father Butio tells me that your holy book says 
that the tree is to be judged by its fruits. All the fruits 
that we have seen of your religion, are robber)^, murder, 
and a crazy search after what we call turey, and you call 
gold. 



34 COLUMBUS. 

Fer. You are not able to understand why we value 
gold so highly; or I would explain it to you. 

Ana. Oh. yes, I do understand it. 

Fer. Tell me then. 

A7ia. It is your god ! I have seen your people kiss 
it and worship it They will lie, steal, and murder to get 
it. 

{Looks R.) Who is this coming? 

Fer. {Looks.) One of your great Caziques probably. 

Ana. {Sarcastically.) No, it is one of your great Ca- 
ziques ! 

Enter Pedro /;/ the rich dress of a Spayiish noblemayi. 
He is reclining indolently in an uncovered palanquin 
shaped like a small boat, a7id borne by four natives. Two 
native women are walking by it, with native palm-leaf 
fans in their hands. A small anchor is lying in the front 
of the palanquin, attached to a thin rope. Name 'Santa 
Maria'' painted 071 side of palanquin. 
Fed. {To natives.) Hallo there! Halt! Come to 
anchor, you villains! 

{Sits up and flings out anchor. Natives stop and put down 
the palanquin. Wo7nen begin fanning him.) 
Fer. Why, by the holy saints! is that you, Pedro? I 
heard you had become rich, and were living on a planta- 
tion like a Hidalgo. But the half, I see, had not been 
told me. 

Fed. Yes, most noble Don Fernando, blessed be the 
saints! things have changed greatly with me since we 
came here on the good ship Santa Maria. ( To the na- 
tive women.) Oh, stop your fanning! {To Anacaona.) 
By your leave, great Princess, I will get out, and stretch 
my appendages a little. 
Fer. "Appendages"? 

Fed. Yes, sefior. I mean of course my compasses, 
my legs — but when a man becomes rich, he must of course 
begin to refine his language. 
Ana. You are welcome. 

Fer. I see you call your craft the Santa Maria: 
Fed. Yes, indeed! That was a grand old .ship; and 
it had some grand old sailors aboard. I tell you, .seiior, 



COLUMBUS. 85 

if the king knew how much he owes to one of his old 
sailors ! 

Fer. Why, ho"vv is that? I thought all you sailors, 
young and old, were half the time nearly scared to death. 

Ped. "Scared to death"! Not a whit of it! Many 
is the night the Admiral would come to me when I had 
the watch, and say : " Pedro, my old salt, I am about ready 
to give this whole thing up." But I would comfort him, 
and cheer him, and pat him on the shoulder, and say, it 
will never do to go back now, old boy, till he was quite 
himself again. 

Fer. {Smiles.) Indeed I never knew of that. 

Ped. Of course not. But you remember that last 
night — when I showed him how the earth was round 
like an orange — and he said he w^as almighty afeared we 
would run over the edge of it some day. And I cried, 
Damn the odds! we will go over then like true Castilians 
and pious seamen, singing the Gloria! 

Fer. {Aside) This is surely the most consummate 
liar the good Lord ever made. 

{To Pedro.) How many times have you told that 
story, Pedro? 

Ped. About five hundred times I should judge, seiaor, 
more or less. 

Fer. Until now vou really begin to believe it vour- 
self? 

Ped. Believe it! If you doubt my word, just ask the 
Admiral. If he says it is not so — after that, put no trust 
in anybody. They are all liars! 

Fer. But how is it you have managed to get up in 
the world so famously, Pedro? 

Ped. It all came in the first place, seiior, from that 
rusty old spike. And, of course, from being good and 
virtuous. "Be good, and you shall be happy and pros- 
perous," as Father Gonsalvo says. Few men have been 
as prosperous as I am ; and therefore I think I may say 
without bragging, seiior, that few have been as virtuous 
and good. 

Fer. (Lau^Q^/is.) Yes, I heard that you joined the ex- 
pedition, as so many others did, to keep out of prison. 

Ped. Slander! base slander! noble seiior. You know 



36 COLUMBUS. 

that the successful man is always slandered. A noble 
lord, you knew him well, was accused of piracy. They 
accused me too — and I was no more guilty than he was. 
But to avoid the bother of a trial, we embraced her Maj- 
esty's offer of a pardon to those who would volunteer — 
and came off together. 

Fer. But th-at rusty old spike did not give you enough 
to start on ? 

Fed. Oh, you know I had a lot of bells and beads of 
my own. 

Fer. You had charge of the trinkets on board the 
ship, I believe. 

Fed. No, no, seiior. Don Diego had them in charge. 
I only acted under his orders. 

Fer. Well — what did you do then? 

Fed. See that wench there. {Po'uits to one of the na- 
tive icomen.) Rather pretty, is n't she? Went with her 
to her people in the mountains. She knew of a little 
gold mine. I came down to city. Saw the noble lord 
about it. Both of us accused of piracy, you know. All 
false, though. He got me an order on the Cazique up 
there, for two hundred of his people. Hard work for 
the poor devils — had to flog them up to it — half died the 
first year. But they are only heathen, j^ou know. Bound 
to be damned forever anyhow. It is wicked for us to be 
kinder than the good Lord. Don't you think so? 

Ana. Wretch! thief! murderer of my innoceqt peo- 
ple! Depart at once, lest Caonabo should come, and 
wreak his vengeance on you ! 

Fed. {Alarmed — to Fernando) Whew, what a tigress ! 
And to take offence at nothing, too. I should be afraid 
of such a paramour, Don Fernando. 

Fer. {Sternly.) Take care of what you say, you ras- 
cal! You are speaking of one I hope to make my wife. 

Fed. {Getting into palanqiiin.) Your wife! Make a 
wife of a godless heathen woman! Why it is positive 
atheism ! I may have done some bad things in my time, 
but I trust I am too good a Christian to do such a thing 
as that! Wife! 

{Fnlls in the anchor. To Itidians) Off with you now. 
Off! ( With a last sad look at Fernando.) I always liked 



COL,UMBUS. 37 

that young cavalier ; but, good Lord, what is the world 
coming to! He will be burnt 3'et in the public square, 
before he dies! {Exeinit Pedro a?id party.) 

Alia. There is your noble Christian ! And you ask 
me to adopt his religion ! 

Fer. I ask you to adopt my religion. Not that I care 
much — but that I may shield you, and save your people. 
That our God is the true God is proved by his having 
given us the thunder and the lightning. 

A7ia. What use do you make of them? 

Fer. To punish our enemies — and his! 

Ana. You mean to kill and plunder those who have 
never injured 5- ou ; who received you as the children of 
the skies, and held back nothing from you. No good- 
go^ gave you his thunder and his lightning. The good 
gods would not do it. You got them doubtless from that 
bad god, whom your priests call the Devil — and who, 
they say, delights to murder and to torture! 

Fer. {Aside.) What can I say to her? What she says 
is so true, and yet so false ! 

Enter Caonabo and BuTio. 

Bid. ( To Caonabo.) One of my young men brought 
me word of it early this morning. 

Caon. {Excitedly.) I knew nothing of it. Father. I 
had no hand nor part in it. And yet I cannot see that 
any harm was done that cannot easily be repaired. 

Ana. What has happened, Butio? 

But. The god-house of the two priests was burnt down 
two nights ago, in their absence. 

Caon. Nobody was hurt. It can easily be rebuilt, and 
twice as large, if they wish it. 

But. But that is not the important part of it. A 
number of their holy images and pictures were burnt 
with it. 

Cao7i. Well, we can buy double as many in the white- 
man's city — and make it better than before. 

But. I am afraid it will not satisfy them. 

Caon. Then they are ver}^ unreasonable men. 

{Goes to Fernando.) 

Don Fernando, welcome ! You are our friend. You 



38 COLUMBUS. 

have heard what Father Butio has told us. I think he is 
needlessly alarmed. 

Fer. It is very serious. Were onl}- Father Antonio 
concerned, it might all be smoothed over. But Father 
Gonsalvo is as stern and relentless as death. 

Ana. Can nothing then be done? Oh, what a terri- 
ble religion ! 

Fi)\ I will go at once to the Governor, and offer 
from you, Caonabo, the fullest reparation — even to the 
death of those who are guilty. 

Caon. No — not death! They have done nothing de* 
serving of that. Any reasonable quantity of gold — your 
dark prison for a time — but nothing more. 

Fcr. By our laws they have committed sacrilege 
against God — and the punishment for that is to be burnt 
to death I 

Ana. Oh, horrible! Have you Christians no mercy? 

Fer. None for those that revile our God ! 

But. {Earnestly.) I have listened to the reading of 
vour holy book by Father Antonio. He said that your 
God taught you to forgive your enemies. We know well 
that your people never do forgive their enemies. But 
does your God not forgive his enemies? 

Fer. I cannot stay to reason out this matter, good 
Father. The time is too precious. Father Gonsalvo no 
doubt has alread}- made his complaint against 5"OU, and 
to those who are waiting for any fair pretext to seize all 
that 30U have. The Admiral is still in the Southern 
seas; and, besides, he is in disgrace at home. But I 
will do all I can for you. 

Cao)i. Offer them all we have. But no subject of 
mine, for such a slight offence, shall be burnt to death in 
your wicked fires. 

Ana. No! no! We will a// perish rather! 

(. i trumpet sounds L.) 

Fer. I fear it is too late. 

Enter Don AlphonSO, rcith drawn sword, at tJie head of 
a Trumpeter and six soldiers, all in armor, and armed 
with lances. One ofjhe soldiers carries fetters. 

Al. (Goes to Caonabo.) In the names of Ferdinand 



COLUMBUS. 39 

and Isabella, sovereign King and Queen of Castile and 
Leon, I arrest you, Caonabo, Cazique, for sacrilege and 
high treason. And here is my warrant. {Shows paper.) 

Ana. {To Alphonso.) You have eaten of his bread, 
and slept under his roof ! Wretch! 

Al. {To Anacaona.) I have heard you saj^ that the 
claims of duty were superior to those of Friendship, and 
even of Love. 

{To Caonabo) I would not fetter you, Caonabo. Give 
me your promise that you will not attempt to escape. 

Caoyi, You white men never keep j'our promises; how 
can you expect me to keep mine? 

Al. {Lightly.) Oh, some white men do, and some do 
not. And some heathen do, and some do not. But I 
know that you will. 

But. { To Caonabo) Promise him. Even if you could 
escape, where could you go? The}' have covered the 
whole land. 

Caon. Where do you take me? 

Al. To Santo Domingo — to be tried for the offences 
charged against you. Perhaps to Castile — to be tried b}^ 
the tribunals of the Holy Inquisition — as the main charge 
is sacrilege. 

Fer. You know that Caonabo had no hand in it. 

Al. The charge is not that he was the hand that did 
it, but the head that planned it. But if however he is in- 
nocent, he is in no danger. 

Fer. But if he is tried, he will be found guilty. And 
if he is taken to Castile, when he returns — if he ever 
should return — he will never be able to regain his pos- 
sessions. 

Al. I cannot help it ! 

Ana. {To Alpho?iso) I would speak to you a mo- 
ment. 

Al. {To soldiers) Guard this man well. If he at- 
tempts to escape, kill him 

{To Anacaona.) I am at your service, beautiful Prin- 
cess! {They go aside together) 

Ana. {Aside to Alphonso) You have done as you 
threatened. You have triumphed. You are taking my 
brother to his death. Can vou save him? 



40 COLUMBUS. 

A/. I can — if the reward is sufficient. Beautiful An- 
acaona, if you will smile upon me, I will risk my own 
life to save your brother. 

Ana. Set him at liberty, and I will marry you. 

Al. I shall have to take him to Santo Domingo. Then 
it will be difficult to release him without a trial. But I 
think gold, rightly applied, will do it. 

Ana. Spare not the gold. I know of an old mine, 
which is full of it. 

Ai. You do? I know then that I can save him. — And 
you will no longer deny my suit, beautiful Princess! 

Ana. Will you marry me, as your people marry? 

Al. Of course. It is what I live for. Then you shall 
be mine forever. We will go to Castile — and I shall 
make all the nobles mad with envying me your beauty. 
Do not tell the secret of that old gold mine to any- 
body. 

A?ia. You understand me — I must be married by one 
of your own priests. 

AL {Hesitates.) Yes — if he will do it. 

Ana. Father Antonio must marry us. 

A/. Of course. He will first baptize you. That is 
nothing though. 

Ana. Nothing? It is everything! I would sacrifice 
my life and all I have, to save my brother. That other 
I will never do. 

AL What folly! I thought all was settled. I tell 
you your brother's trial means his death ! Besides, the 
torture ! 

Ana. Will you, for my sake, give up your religion — 
and deny your God? 

AL And go after death to endless fires in hell? Beau- 
tiful Princess, that is too big a price to pay even for you ! 

A?ia. All is over then. You and yours may do 3^our 
worst. No more than you — even to save my brother's 
life — will I desert the faith of my people! 

AL My soldiers are wondering at this delay. Is this 
your answer? Is all over? 

Ana. It is all over! 

{Goes to Caonabo, and sadly embraces him.) 

My brother — no man, I fear, can save you! But when 



COLUMBUS. 41 

we children of Rimac can no longer live, we know well 
how to die! 

AL {Aside.) The game is not played out yet. She 
will think better of it. I must find out more about that 
gold mine. 

{To Cao7iabo) Do you promise me that you will not 
attempt to escape? 

Caon. If I gave you my promise, I would keep it, 
like a great Cazique. But I am the king here, and deny 
any right of your king to judge me. You white men 
came to us as strangers, and we welcomed you as guests 
and as friends. You have gone on stealing from us, 
month after month, until you claim now to own the 
whole land. This beautiful land, which the good god of 
the skies, gave to our fathers. — Let me look at that paper 
you read to me. {Alphonso hands him the writ — and he 
glances at it.) 

Tell your master this is my answer: — I deny his right 
to call me to account. I am lord and king here. I refuse 
to obey his summons. I scorn him and defy him! 

{Tears 7ip the paper and flings it on the ground) 

AL { To soldiers.) Put the shackles on him — the re- 
bellious, accursed heathen! 

Caon. I defy you! 

{They take hold of him, but he wrests himself loose. Before 
he can escape, one of the soldiers pierces him with his 
lance, a7id he falls. The other soldiers are about to kill 
him, but Fji,RT<i A'sp&sprifigs forxcard, and thrusts aside 
their iv capons.) 

Fer. He is harmless — restrain your weapons. 
Ana. {Goes to her brother, and embraces and kisses 
him.) Oh, my brother! my brother! 

End op Act III. 



42 COIvUMBUS. 

ACT iV. • 

PUT IN IRONS. 

Scene. — Public square in Santo Domingo — shaded by 
Palm trees, etc. Restaurant L, ivitli a table and seats in 
front of it. 

Enter Don Alphonso and Don Guzman. 

Al. Well, what do you think of our little city. Don 
Gtfzman? Of course it is nothing, compared to what you 
have seen in your many wanderings all over the old 
world. But remember we have done all this in a very 
few years. 

Guzman. {Rather pompously.) It is, as you say, not 
much; but it is still quite creditable. Very creditable 
indeed! You must have pulled off your coats, and gone 
to work like Trojans. 

Al. Oh, we did better than that. We cavaliers, you 
know, are a good deal better at setting other men to 
work than at working ourselves. That old Genoese ad- 
venturer tried hard to set us digging and building, but 
we soon let him know that we were not mere ordinarj- 
Hidalgoes,* but of the very bluest blood of Castile. 

Guz. That was right. Work is for slaves. It has the 
curse of the Fall on it. — But how did you arrange it? 

Al. Easily enough. We just sent word to the Indian 
Caziques — send us on each new moon so many men, so 
many women, so many loaves of Indian bread, so many 
ounces of gold. Do you see? 

Guz. That simplified matters, I see, amazingl3^ But 
suppose they refused? 

Al. We made an example of them! One of us, in 
armor, is a match for a hundred of them. Besides, they 
are terribly afraid of our horses and our bloodhounds. 
The}' had never seen animals before larger than a rabbit. 

NOTK — Santo Dotningo ~uas founded in 1496. Houses naze genetaUy are of 
stone — rest of them -wood. Probably at first generally wood. Mostly one 
story, flat roofs, barred wiudn'ivs, no glass), projecting lattices. Some of the 
houses built by the early settlers were in the Moorish style. 

"This word Hidalgo is often misused. It xxk&'Si.w.s^^ son of something" — a 
nobleman, but of the lowest class. 



COLUMBUS. 4o 

Aud as for our guns — they think they coutam the thun- 
der and lightning of the gods. But wait a moment. 

{ Goes to door of ristaurant and kno( fcs. A servant anszvers 
the kiioek.) 

A/. {To servant.) Bring us some Indian bread, and 
fruits — and Indian drinks. Nothing that is not native. 

{Exit servant.) 

{Servajit conies and goes zvith maize bread, fruit, etc., and 
halfa-dozcn large hard-boiled eggs.) 

Al. {To Don Guzman.) I thought you would like to 
see what these rascally Indians live on. Here they have . 
been dwelling in peace and plenty, the holy saints know 
how many thousands of years — godless heathen as they 
all are — while in unhappy Castile, millions of the truest 
and best Christians under the sun, have had to toil from 
morning till night, and then get barely enough to keep 
them from starving. It is too bad, Don Guzman, too 
bad! 

Guz. Yes — it does not seem to be right. And in trav- 
elling up and down through the world, it has often struck 
me that the heathen seemed entirely too happy. 

Al. Well, there is one consolation. 

Guz. What is that? 

AL That in the next world, they will have to take it 
hot and heavy. 

{Four natives, looking sick and half-starved, come quietly in, 
and sit dozen on the ground at rear of stage) 

Guz. Those, I suppose, are some of the natives, you 
speak of. They do not look very happ\-. 

Al. Oh, you ought to have seen them, when we first 
came here. They were as fat and sleek then as my dog. 
You see they did scarcely anything from morning till 
night. A few hours labor every day was enough to 
supply all their wants. They really however were not 
large eaters; and, as for clothes, half the time here it is 
pleasanter to go without any. 

Guz. What brings them here now? Are they too sick 
and weak to work? 



44 COIvUMBUS. 

A/. {Latighs) Oh, they smelt the victuals! And 
hope we will toss some bread or bones to them after we 
have finished eating. It half spoils the pleasure of din- 
ing in these public places. It should not be tolerated. 

Guz. No; in most Christian countries, those who are 
really sick and starving have at least the common de- 
cency to go into their holes and starve; and not selfishly 
mar the pleasure of their more fortunate brethren. 

{Servant co7nes fortvard.) 

Servant. {Bowing.) All is ready, noble cavaliers. 

Al. Now you will see, seiior, that these Indians really 
have been having a pretty good time of it. 

{They sit down to the table. The Indians creep nearer to 
them — and look up at them imploringly) 

Al. {Looks at hidians) Oh, I cannot stand this. 
Here, you curs! {He takes up slices of bread and tosses 
to them. Indians scramble for it. Then two bafianas — a 
pi?ieapple, etc) 

Now — clear yourselves! be off with you! 

{Indians get up, and go off slozcly L) 

Al. This goes on all the time. It is outrageous ! I 
hope the new Governor will put an end to it. He came 
over in the same vessel, you said ? 

Guz. Yes, last night. He went at once to the official 
residence. 

Al. What kind of a man is this Bobadilla? 

Guz. One that will stand no nonsense. He is as sharp 
and cold as his own sword. 

Al. They say he is to supersede the old Genoese 
when he comes back, if he ever does come! 

Guz. Yes — he made no secret of it on board the 
vessel. He said that the King was disgusted with the 
Admiral's doings. Even the Queen was seriously dis- 
pleased. 

Al. We were afraid the Queen would still support 
him. 

Guz. No — she will uphold him no longer. 

Al. She too remembers then, what is due to us, her 
nobles — and is ready to rebuke the arrogance of this 
Genoese upstart and adventurer. 



COLUMBUS. 45 

Guz. Oh, it is not that. She cannot pardon the send- 
ing of those 300 natives to be sold as slaves in Castile — 
and has ordered them all sent back. She said: — What 
powec has the Admiral to make slaves of my vassals ? 

Al. Oh, was that it? Really, my friend, that was 
about the only sensible thing the old Italian ever did. 
Her majesty is a glorious lady, but, between ourselves, 
she, and a certain class among the priests, whose hearts 
are a great deal better than their heads, are a little — 
but, you understand me. Now, taste this bread. 

{They begin eating.) 

It is made out of what they call maize. It is the In- 
dian's corn. They have no wheat, nor rjx, nor barley, 
you know. This is the same grain — here it is roasted 
on the ears. {Ha7ids some ears on plate.) Maize is a 
wonderful grain. Here is a kind of beer the natives 
make from it. Here is another drink they call Pulque 
{pool'-ka.) It is made from the aloe. {Hands glass.) 

Guz. {Drinks.) Rather bitter — isn't it? 

Al. Oh, you soon get to liking it. The sweetest 
women are a little bitter. Try this. {Poiirs out a glass) 
This is a kind of pine-apple wine. 

G712. I like that better. Are the natives an intem- 
perate race? 

Al. Oh, no — I never saw a drunkard among them. 
For a set of heathen, they are remarkably free from the 
small vices. Try one of these bananas. 

Guz. Thank you. Those are large eggs. Are they 
from native fowls? 

Al. Yes — a kind of wild fowl they have here. He 
struts about so much like an old Turk, with his harem 
of wives, that we call him Turkey. It is capital good 
eating too. 

{Looks R.) But who are these coming? It is the Ad- 
miral ! He must have just returned. 

Enter Columbus, Fernando, and Di^go. 

Cohan. {To Fernayido) If I had been here, this should 
not have happened. Caonabo! who treated us so gener- 
ousl}'! But in my great desire to make further discover- 
ies of this portion of Asia, I have had to neglect this 



46 COLUMBUS. 

province. I think, in this last voyage, I have approached 
very near to the wonderful city of Gengis Khan, whose 
very streets are paved with gold. But in a few days I 
shall be master of the whole situation, and the beautiful 
Anacaona shall be no further molested. 

Fer. Thank you, noble Admiral! I knew that when 
you returned, every wrong deed would be righted. 

Al. {To Guzman) Let us go up, and make our obei- 
sance. ( They go to the Admiral) 

Al. {To Admiral) I am glad you have returned 
safely, most noble sefior. This is my illustrious friend, 
the famous traveller, Don Guzman of Seville. 

Colum. Welcome, Don Alphonso! {To Guzman) I 
am happy to make the acquaintance of so distinguished 
a traveller. — How far have your journeys extended, Don 
Guzman? 

Guz. {Rather pompously) Pretty much all over the 
world, noble Admiral. There is very little to see that I 
have not seen. 

Colum. Have you ventured as far as the East Indias 
and Cathay? 

Guz. Almost, seiior. I had even planned, the 5'ear 
before you started from Palos, an exactly similar expe- 
dition to yours — and had the promise of the necessary 
money — but unfortunately it was postponed for some 
slight reason. 

Al. I knew of it, my friend. And it is really strange, 
noble Admiral, how many travellers' minds were full of 
the same scheme. But of course — even where there are 
twenty with the same great idea, one necessarily must 
be the first to put it into execution. And you happened 
to be the lucky seaman, Admiral. 

Colum. {Indignant) "L,uck!" "Happened!" "Twenty 
other men ! " Is that the way the world is already talk- 
ing? 

Guz. You have made a great discovery. Admiral; and 
I am sure no one grudges you the glory. But of course 
you must admit, as a reasonable man, that any one who 
had bought a ship, set sail from Palos, and kept on sail- 
ing to the South of West, must inevitably have discov- 
ered these West Indias. A vast continent like Asia is 



COLUMBUS. 47 

not a thing that even a blind man could sail past in the 
dark without finding it. {Laughs.) 

Al. {Also Laughs) If he did not find it, it would be 
certain to find him — and to his sorrow! 

Colum. {To Fernando) Yes, every body can tell ex- 
actly how to do it — now that I have shown them the way. 

{Goes to table, where the plate of hard-boiled eggs is still 
standing) 

Colnvi. {Picks up one of the eggs, and turns to Do7i 
Guzman) Can you make this &gg stand erect on its 
little end, senor? 

Guz. Of course not. No man can do that. 

Cohwi. And yet you are a famous traveller; and ha-v-e 
been all over the world ! Do please try it. It is almost 
as easy as bragging. 

{Guzman takes the egg — tjirns to table, and tries. But the 
egg will tumble over) 

Colum. You cannot make an egg stand on its little 
end — and yet you could have easily discovered this new 
world. 

{To Alphonso) You do it, Don Alphonso. 

Al. {Shakes his head) I cannot, your Excellency ! 

Cohan. And yet you and your friends know how to 
govern so much better than I do ! — I will show you how 
to do it, senors. 

{Colum.bus takes the egg, and brings it down with a little 
thump on the table, breaking the point iri) 

Colum. See, it is done! 

Giiz. {Irritated) Any one could do that. 

Colum. {Smiles) Precisely! After I have shown 
them how. 

(Fernando and Diego biirst out laughing.) 

Per. { To Columbus) Europe waited a thousand years 
for you, noble Admiral, to show her the way to this new 
world. And,, if the good Lord had not sent you along, 
she probably would have waited some thousands of years 
longer. 

Colum. I humblv think so, Fernando. 



48 COLUMBUS. 

Di. Of course she would! — {Looks R.) But who is 
this coming? 

ILnter Caonabo, ^vounded, and in fetters, zvith officer and 
two soldiers. 

Coliivi. This is shameful! The great Cazique who 
received us so kindly and generously. 

{To officer) By whose orders is this done? Where 
are you taking this man? 

Officer. I am acting under the order of the chief 
Alguazil. "We are taking him back to prison — to await 
the next ship that sails for Castile. 

Colum. Has he been tried? 

Of. The charge against him was too heavy to be de- 
cided here. Father Gonsalvo demanded that he should 
be sent to Seville, for trial before the holy Inquisition. 

Fer. {Aside to Columbus) That means death. 

Caon. Great Cazique of the white men, I have done 
nothing worthy of punishment. For the wrong done by 
a few of my ignorant people, I will make three-fold res- 
titution. 

Colum. {To officer) Take off his fetters, and let him 
go free. 

{Officer hesitates^ but begins slowly to take off the fetters) 

{Blast of a trumpet outside R) 

Enter R. Trtimpeter and flag-bearer, follozved by Bo- 
BADILLA and officers. 

' Bobadilla. {To officer) Officer, what are you doing? 

Of. Setting this Indian prisoner free. 

Bob. And how dare 3^ou? By whose orders are you 
acting? 

Colum. {Advances, and confronts Bobadilla) By my 
orders ! 

Bob. And who are you ? 

Fer. {To Bobadilla) It is the Admiral! 

Colum. Who am I? I am the Admiral of all these 
lands and seas! I am the Viceroy and Governor Gen- 
eral! I am the sole judge in all disputes that may arise 
between this jurisdiction and Castile! Rights and titles 



COLUMBUS. 49 

secured to me by letters patent, signed by their Majesties, 
and sealed with the great seal ! 

Bob. You are Admiral and Viceroy no longer ! Your 
letters patent are revoked ! 

Cohan . They cannot be revoked! They are a perpet- 
ual compact and agreement! I have done my part in dis- 
covering these islands, and this grand continent of the 
West Indias. In return, I claim my rights as Grand 
Admiral and Viceroy, secured to me and my male heirs 
forever ! 

Bob. What their Majesties can do, they can undo! 

Cohan. I am a loyal servant of their Majesties — but 
not even the Crown can lawfully recede from its plighted 
faith. 

Bob. Well, that is a case, as any notary will tell you, 
for the Courts, and the High Council of the Indias. You 
have greatly abused your great office — and I am here by 
the order of their Majesties with supreme power to act 
as I judge best. I have made up my mind already, that 
you are one of the chief obstacles to the restoration of 
quiet and order in this colony. And I now direct you to 
lay down your authority, and return at once to Europe. 

Cohim. I cannot believe that you have any such pow- 
ers from their Majesties. They would not treat me so 
unjustly, so cruelly! 

Bob. Oh, that is easily settled. {To his secretary.) 
Hand me my warrant. {Secretary hands paper.) Here 
is my Commission, under the great seal of Castile and 
Leon. {Extends it to Cohimbus.) 

Colum. {To Diego.) My eyes fail me, Diego. Poor, 
weak eyes! worn out in my many voyages in their Maj- 
esties' service. Take it and read it closely. 

{Diego takes document and peruses it.) 

Bob. Your notary will find no flaw in it, sefior. It is 
short, but sure. 

Cohcm. {To Diego.) What does it say, Diego? 

Diego. {Sadly.) It gives him absolute power in all 
things — to settle matters as he thinks wisest and best. 

Cohmi. Not against me! 

Di. Against you, and every one. He is sole master 
bere. 



50 COLUMBUS. 

Colum. {Pathetically) I cannot believe it! Their 
Majesties would not do so unjust a thing ! ( To Diego) 
Hand me the paper. {Be^ids over it) It seems all 
blurred, Diego. My eyes are so weak in my old age. 
{Briishes away tears zvith his hand) After so many years 
of waiting, and toil, and struggle, to be treated thus! 
And by the nation I have benefitted. England, Portugal, 
Genoa ! — none of them would have been so ungrateful. 
Where is the King's signature, Diego? Put your finger 
on it. {Diego poijits it out to him) Yes! I see it! And 
the Queen's? {Diego points out that) Yes, there it is; 
Isabella — Isabella — Isabella! Almighty God! {Bursts 
into tears) 

{After a ynoment, he recovers his self conwiand ) 

{ To Bobadilla) — I WILL NoT GO ! 

Bob. {Sternly) You will not ? 

Colum. No, I will not! I will do nothing that might 
be construed into an admission of the legality of your 
command. I hold my titles as Admiral and Viceroy by 
a right which not even the King, or the Queen, or both 
of them together, can set aside. My offices were not 
free gifts of theirs — they were given in return for these 
great lands I have discovered. It was agreed moreover, 
that I should have one-tenth of the net value of all pearls, 
precious stones, gold, silver, spices, and merchandise. 
Can they, after I have done my part, with a mere stroke 
of the pen, nullify all their part of the bargain? I would 
transfer my claim to France or England, before I would 
submit to such injustice — and say to them, you pay me 
my just dues, and take my right to the whole land. 

Bob. Your wild talk, seiior, would sound xike open 
treason, were it not that you are foreign born. But I 
will send you to Castile; and we shall see whether you 
dare utter there, what you have uttered here. 

Colum. Here, or there, I dare utter it. For it is the 
Truth ! 

Bob. I care not. All I wish to know is, will you 
quietly and peaceably yield up your power.^ and titles as 
Admiral and Viceroy, and go back to Castile? 

Colum. No! I will not waive for one moment my 
rights as hereditary Admiral and "\''iceroy of all the seas 



COLUMBUS. 51 

and lands that I have discovered. I will not admit your 
rightful authority by any slightest act or word. 

Bob. Then you shall yield to force, what you will not 
yield to your Sovereigns' commands. I arrest you, in the 
name of their Majesties, for evil conduct and tyranny in 
your high offices — and for contumacy and contemplated 
treason. 

( To officer) That Indian is wounded, and not danger- 
ous. Take off his irons, and put them upon this con- 
tumacious and rebellious man. 

Fer. {Starts forward) Your Excellency will not 
commit so horrible an outrage ! 

Di. It is shameful! shameful! 

Bob. Silence! Do you wish to go to prison with him? 
One word more, if you dare! I know what I am doing! 
And will answer for it to the King! 

{The officer puts the irons on Columbus.) 

Cobim. {Bitterly) These are the pearls, the precious 
stones, the gold and the silver with which monarchs 
adorn those who have rendered them great services! I 
will preserve these fetters whilst I live, as memorials of 
the gratitude and generosity of Castile and Leon ! And, 
after my death, I will bequeath them to my children, that 
they may always bear in mind how empty are the prom- 
ises, and how worthless the plighted faith of princes! 

End of Act IV. 



ACT V. 

THE TRIUMPH OF TUREY. 
Scene. — Indian Village as in Act 3. 

Enter BuTiO and Anacaona. 

But. Your brother is still in the prison. There was 
not room enough for him in the vessel which took the 
great Admiral. 



52 COLUMBUS. 

Ana. You said he was recovering from his wounds? 

But. Yes, rapidly. 

Ana. May I still hope for his release? 

But. Your high race, Princess, never despair — and 
never fear the worst that can befall them ! 

A>ia. Oh, that the great Admiral were still in power, 
triumphant over his enemies ! And he was sent back to 
his home in chains? 

But. The captain of the ship would have taken off 
his fetters. But the great Admiral refused. "The King 
has put these irons on me ; and I will wear them till he 
orders them taken off." — But where is Don Fernando of 
late? 

Ana. (Sad/y.) I know not. 

But. You told me that you revealed to him the secret 
of the gold mine. I fear it was a mistake. The best of 
the white men, after all, are only white men! Doubtless 
he has gone off to find the mine. 

Aua. If he should prove false to me, I would rather 
die than live. 

But. What do you expect will be the issue of this 
mad love? 

Ana. (Sad/y.) I know not. 

But. Why throw your heart away upon a son of the 
strangers — who is neither of your race nor your relig- 
ion? 

Ana. Father, I have heard you say, that there really 
was but one true religion :— To be good and to do good! 
We both belong to that true religion. 

Btit. But he is allied to the cruel oppressors and spoil- 
ers of your people. It is madness, my daughter. 

Ana. Yes, Father, it is madness! 

But. Then forget him ! Fling him from your heart, 
as you would fling a worthless weed from your bosom. 

Ana. Yes, no doubt that is wisdom, Father. And I 
often have half resolved to do it. Have you ever seen 
the bird when the eye of the serpent is charming it? I 
am just as helpless. 

Bjit. We kill the snake, and save the foolish bird. 

Ana. {Goes to him anxiously) You must not let any 
of our people harm him. Father. Promise me that they 



COI.UMBUS. OO 

shall not harm him — either with our secret poisons; or 
with the subtle, invisible arrow\ Promise me! 

But. You are unwise. But T promise you! 

(Looks L) 

Here comes that other white chief — who also seems to 
be enamored of you. 

Ana. Oh, I hate him — as a Princess of our race, ought 
to hate every W'hite man. 

Enter Don Alphonso. 

AI. Beautiful Prince.ss! the new Governor is on his 
way to see you. He has sent me in advance, to give you 
notice of his coming. 

Ana. Had he given me earlier notice, I might have 
welcomed him with songs and dances and fea.sting, such 
as was the custom of our people — until the.se later times, 
when their cruel taskmasters have taken all the joy and 
music out of their dreary lives. 

Al. My lord, Bobadilla, cares not for such festive 
welcomes. He is of too great a nature! His motto is 
simply to do his duty, and make all others do theirs. 

Ana. Why does he come then? He must know that 
I am in no mood just now to see strangers. 

AL He is visiting all the great Caziques, to enjoin 
upon them the faithful performance of their duties — the 
punctual payment of their tributes of maize and cotton 
and gold. And to see that their proportion of laborers 
is duly and regvilarly supplied for the plantations and the 
mines. 

Ana. From that last requirement, we are by special 
treaty with the great Admiral exempted. 

Al. The Admiral has fallen ; and your special treaty 
has fallen with him. 

Ana. I will never agree that our people .shall be made 
slaves, and driven by the lash to disease and death, as 
those of the other Caziques. 

AI. I thought you would say that, and so came here 
to warn you. Your refusal will make no difference. It 
will not protect your people — but will only bring down 
ruin upon your own head. 



54 COLUMBUS 

But. You are one of the white lords, Don Alphonso, 
cannot you protect us? 

Al. I cannot in such a case as this. No man can — 
save the Governor himself. He is steel — and he will not. 

But. Cannot Don Fernando? 

Al. Now that the Admiral's day is over, he is not 
half so powerful as I am. 

But. Then the great gods of the skies have pity upon 
us ! 

Al. {Somewhat bitterly.) You know I have no partic- 
ular reason to love your princess, Butio. 

Afia. You have not. Save that you have eaten of my 
brother's bread, and drank of his wine. 

Al. That is true. And I have a young man's nat- 
ural dislike to seeing a beautiful woman's limbs torn to 
pieces. 

But. What mean you? 

Al. I mean that Bobadilla is a man who has no such 
scruple, and is to be feared. 

{Sound of truvipct outside.) 

But here he comes. I have warned you. Do not in- 
cense him! 

Enter Bobadili,a, zvith officers, trumpeter, soldiers, etc. 

Ana. Welcome, great Cazique ! 

Bob. So you are she that my young men rave about 
as "the beautiful Princess! " But I am not a silly boy to 
care for a fair outside. With me, beautiful is as beauti- 
ful does. 

Alia. I am sorry I had not longer notice that the 
great Cazique was coming. Our people then would have 
welcomed him with songs and dances. 

Bob. {Sternly.) I have no time for such unprofitable 
follies. I was sent out here by the great King to see 
that every one does his duty. 

Ana. I humbly beseech your greatness for mercy for 
my brother! {Kneels before him) 

Bob. Oh, I have nothing to do with that. The Judge 
has ordered that Caonabo be sent to Seville for trial. If 
he is innocent, he will be sent back. If he is guilty of 
sacrilege — the greatest of all crimes — he will be burnt 



COLUMBUS. 5o 

alive in the public square. {To Alp h on so) That would 
be a fine sight, Alplionso, for the people. An Indian 
Cazique, with all his feathers and bracelets on ! It would 
have a great effect in promoting the spread of the only 
true and holy religion ! 

(To Anacaona.) Yes, you may depend upon it. Your 
brother shall have perfect and exact justice. The judges 
of the Inquisition are holy and inspired men; and there- 
fore cannot possibly make any mistake. 

Ana. {Rises) " Burnt to death in the public square!" 
Oh, ye merciful gods! 

{To Bobadilla proiidly) There is nothing that the 
white man can inflict, that the red man cannot bear! 
The white man may tear out our hearts; but he cannot 
tear out of our hearts the scorn and contempt that he 
has implanted there ! 

{Bidio goes to her) 

Al. { To Bobadilla) She has been made crazy, senor, 
by her brother's imprisonment. 

Bob. { To Aiphonso) I fear she is a dangerous woman. 
One woman like that, might stir up her whole nation to 
rebellion. 

{To Anacaona) Heretofore, through the criminal folly 
of the late Governor, your people have been exempted 
from the regular labor conscription. You will hereafter 
contribute one-third of your subjects for labor in the 
mines. 

Ana. We have a solemn promise from the great Ad- 
miral, that Caonabo's people shall be entirety free from 
such services. 

Bob. I care nothing for the Admiral's promises. Do 
as I bid you. 

Ana. What right have you strangers to come to this 
country, which the great gods of the skies gave to our 
fathers, and say what disposal we shall make of our 
people? 

Bob. (Laughs) What right? The permission of the 
Holy Father at Rome. Or, as you heathen cannot be 
expected to understand the great truths of the Christian 
religion, the right of the strong hand. 

Ana. I deny your right! And as for your poiver, it 



56 COI.UMBUS. 

comes from him you white men call the devil, if it comes 
from anywhere but your own wicked minds. 

But. That is well spoken. Spoken like a princess of 
our people! 

AI. {To Butio.) Are you mad also? 

But. Better for us to die, here and now, than to give 
up our people to .slavery and to torture ! 

Bob. I will crush this revolt just here and now! {To 
Alphonso) That woman and that priest are too danger- 
ous to live. Besides, she has maligned the true faith. 
And he is a priest of the accursed heathen ! 

Al. {Aside to Bobadilla) Let me pray your Excellency 
to take time for consideration. I have reason to think 
the Princess is the only possessor of a great secret, which 
might die with her. 

Bob. What do you mean — what kind of a secret? 

Al. The secret of a gold mine ! As she is of such a 
powerful family, it may be a mine of immense value. It 
would be wise and prudent, I think, to defer violent 
measures for the present. 

Bob. Of course it would be foolish to act too hastily-. 
Gold is what we are here for. Gold, and the conversion 
of these unhappy heathen. {To Anacaona.) My young 
friend has pleaded with me, Princess, for your pardon. 
I will hold this matter open for a while. Your thanks 
are due to him for all you have, even for life itself! 

Ana. { To Alphonso) I refuse to accept my life at your 
hands. Let that cruel Cazique carry out his deadly pur- 
pose. {Looks R.) Oh, Fernando! Fernando! save me! 

Enter Fernando in haste — looking travel-stained and 
weary — bnt in great excitement. 

Fer. I understand all — one moment. Princess. You 
here. Excellency? I was on my way to Santo Domingo 
to see you. My news is wonderful! wonderful! Such 
mines of silver and of gold ! Like treasures accumulated 
since the beginning of the world. No doubt this is the 
very land of Ophir, where King Solomon sent his .ships 
for gold! Wonderful! magnificent! Oh, I am nearly 
crazy with the sight! {Feryiando, while speaking, walks 
up and down hi an excited manner?) 



COLUMBUS. 57 

Bob. {Eagerly) What does all this mean, Don Fer- 
nando? Do gather your scattered senses together, and 
explain what yon have seen. 

Fer. I had an errand — the Princess here knows of it. 
It was a pretty long tramp. Then I came to a wild 
valley, amid the mountains. It looked as if no foot of 
man had ever trodden there. It was so stony and des- 
olate. Probably no foot has for generations. Stumbling 
down the mountain side, I grasped at a small bush, and 
tore it up b}^ the roots. A bright gleam caught my eyes. 
It was silver. Almost pure silver. I stopped and ex- 
amined it. There it was. A vein more than 100 feet 
wide! I traced it down the mountain side for at least a 
mile! Incalculable riches! 

Bob. {Eagerly.) And can 3'ou find it again? 

Fer. {Sviiles) Can I find the way to my father's 
hearthstone? — But you have not heard the half 5'et. I 
went on to where I was told to go. The signs were all 
there. The curious rock — the pool — the cavern. God! 
what a sight I Nuggets and lumps of virgin gold scat- 
tered all around. They must wxigh from five ounces to 
one hundred pounds! Do you wonder that I am wild — 
that I am nearly crazy, seiiors? ( Walks up afid down 
distractedly.) 

Bob. I am sorry it did not occur to you, senor, that 
your story would not seem so improbable to your friends, 
if you had put a few of those gold nuggets into your 
pockets, and brought them along with you. 

Fer. I thought so too. But then I thought, was it 
best to load myself down with comparatively small nug- 
gets, or take one of the large lumps? I finally concluded 
on the latter course. But it was a miracle how I did it. 
If I had not been nerved by the great excitement, I 
never could have done it — using my coat as a kind of 
bag. Some five miles off, I spied a couple of natives. 
Then, a mile or two further, I met an old acquaintance, 
going back to his plantation. I enlisted him. He should 
be here by this time. {Goes R, and looks. Ah, he is 
coming. I did put a few of the smaller nuggets into my 
pockets. But gold is heazy, senors. Here is one of them. 
{Hands nugget to Bobadilla.) 



58 COLUMBUS. 

That only weighs, I judge, about a pound.* That's 
nothing! {Officers gather around, and look at it.) 

Bui. {To A7tacaona) Did you ever see such miser- 
able creatures? Worshippers of such a useless thing as 
Turey. Even Don Fernando seems half-crazy over it! 
. Aim. He knows doubtless what he is doing. He is 
both wise and good. I knew he would come ! 

Bob. {Hands back gold.) Yes, this little nugget must 
weigh at least a pound. I should think it was worth 
about 500 florins. I congratulate you-, Don Fernando. 

Fer. Oh, as I said, this is nothing! Here comes the 
lump I wanted you to see. 

Enter Pedro with his boat palanqimi, borne by four In- 
dians. Pedro in advance. 

Fed. {To Fernando) Here we are, seiior! {Sees the 
Governor.) Pardon me, your Excellency! I had no 
thought of seeing your mightiness here. I am your 
most humble, devoted servant ! {Bows in great hwnility.) 

Bob. Who are you, seiior? 

Fed. I am one of the '92 people, the first comers, 
your Excellency. Came out with the Admiral. One of 
the old seamen who really showed him how to do it, 
seiior. 

Bob. Oh, it was nothing. Anybody could have done 
it. 

(Fernando goes to palanquin, and takes a cloth off the 
lump of gold) 

Fer. To Bobadilla.) See there! your Excellency! 
See there, sefiors! What is that worth? 
Bob. I never saw such a sight in my life! 
Al. It must weigh fully one hundred pounds ! 
Of Yes, a hundred and fifty, I think. 

* As gold is from two to three times as heavy as iron— a nugget designed 
to represent a pound of gold, should be from one-half to one-third the size 
of a one pound iron weight. The nuggets are found in irregular shapes- 
smooth or rough. 

I judge 100 lbs. of gold would make a solid cube of about 5'^ inches in 
length, width and depth— say 150 cubic inches in all. 

A cubic foot of water weighs, I believe, about 62}^ lbs. 

Kcubic foot of gold would weigh about 1200 lbs. !— Lumps or nuggets have 
been found of various weights up to 200 lbs. 

Irving speaks of a lump weighing 3,200 castillanos. 

Gold and silver then were three times more valuable than now. 



COLUMBUS. 59 

Fcr. Yes! I estimate its value as not less than 50,000 
florins ! 

Bob. It is quite that, I should think. It will make 
you rich for life. 

Fcr. Oh, it is not mine. It belongs to the Princess. 
I am merely acting as her Agent and partner. ( To Bob- 
adilla.) And now, in her name, and having full author- 
ity from her. I beg your Excellency to accept this little 
lump of gold, in proof of her respect for you personally. 
Of course it is to Don Bobadilla, and not to the Gover- 
nor, that this is given. There will be enough hereafter 
for the rightful claims of their Majesties ! 

Bob. {E/cxted) This is magnificent! Such a princely 
gift is proof of a princely soul! {Goes, to Anacaona.) 
Does Don Fernando speak for you, fair Princess? 

Ana. In every word! What he has given, I also give 
you freely. 

Bob. It is a noble gift — and shall be received nobly! 
For the present, it is enough to say, that from my heart, 
I thank you! 

Al. {To Fernando.) You have won, Fernando. And 
a Princess, with such immense wealth may go to Seville, 
or London, or Paris, and rate with the highest. If they 
find fault with her as being a heathen, let her build a 
church, or a cathedral, and the Church also will give her 
its blessing. 

Fer. Thank you, Alphonso! We are already good 
friends again. Here, take this little present from the 
Princess and myself. {Hayids the Jirst nugget of gold to 
him.) 

Al. Thank you, my old friend ! You are indeed gen- 
erous! 

Fer. {To officer)} Here, seiior, is another little nug- 
get that I brought in my pocket. {Hands to officer)) 

Of. Thanks ! generous seiior ! 

Soldier.- {To other soldiers.) Pity there are not some 
more nuggets for us. Our betters always get all the good 
things that are going. 

Ped. {Aside to soldiers.) There is a little valley just 
about three miles off — directly south from here — where 
lots of little nuggets lie scattered around. Not very big 



60 COLUMBUS. 

ones, though — not more than about three years' pay in 
any one of them. 

So/. ( To officer}) I am dying for a drink, sefior. 

{Exit hastily.) 

{The other soldiers say ''so am /," and follozc, one after 
another.) 

Ped. (^Looks after them) How strange! There they 
go, like a lot of race horses. I shouldn't be surprised if 
they were making a bee line for that valley I told them 
about. Come to think though, I made a mistake. It is 
not due south, it is due north from here. {Laughs.) Ah 
well! those stupid marines will believe anything! 

Bob. ( To officer.) Have those rascals court-martialed 
and shot, when they return. 

Of. It is very difficult to keep soldiers in this country, 
your Excellency. They are liable to be attacked at any 
time by what we officers call the gold distemper — and it 
carries them off very rapidly. 

Bob. Punish them severely then. Discipline must be 
maintained. 

But. {To Fernando.) My lord, it is not fitting now 
that the Cazique is away, that you should remain here 
with the Princess at your pleasure. 

Fer. Oh, that can easily be arranged. You shall marry 
us, Butio, and thus prevent all scandal — for I have a great 
deal to say to the Princess, and she needs a protector. 

{To Anacaona.) What do you say, my Princess? You 
are wise with that sweet, instinctive wisdom which is so 
charming in a woman. , 

Ana. I am like the dove when she hears the coo of 
her beloved in the woods. I know that wherever you 
would lead, Anacaona need not fear to follow. 

But. By our customs, the presence of her brother, her 
father being dead, is necessary to the validity of the mar- 
riage. 

Fer. That is unluckj'. 

Ana. {Goes to Bobadilla) Will not the great white 
Cazique come here again to-morrow ? Our people wiU 
welcome him with songs and dances — and with the best 
of all we have. With the bread of the cassava and the 



COLUMBUS. t)l 

maize, and with the dropping richness of our fruit trees. — 
And perhaps he will bring Caonabo with him? 

{She kneels at his feet, and looks up imploringly into his 

face.) 

Bob. There seems to have been great mismanage- 
ment all through this affair — and our noble Queen is de- 
sirous that her Indian vassals should be treated with the 
greatest clemency. If Caonabo has been somewhat to 
blame, he has been already sufl&ciently punished. 

{To Anacaona.) Yes, fair Princess, I will come to your 
bridal with the greatest pleasure. And I will bring Ca- 
onabo with me. He shall be my bridal present. 

(Anacaona kisses his hand and rises.) 

Ana. Great Cazique ! my heart beats the bars of its 
cage like a bird, longing to fly out, and thank you! 

Ped. {Aside.) It is astonishing what power these 
pretty women have. Especially when they own a gold 
mine. 

Fer. Only one word more , your Excellency and sa- 
ilors. This marriage will be according to the Indian cus- 
toms. But I pledge myself on my honor, before you all 
as witnesses, that the marriage ceremony shall be again 
solemnized, according to the rites of our own holy church, 
as soon as I can find a priest willing to perform the cer- 
emony. 

Bob. Spoken like a man, and a noble of the best blood 
of Castile! 

(Fernando goes to Anacaona and embraces her) 

Ped. {Aside.) All this would be very objectionable 
to a good Christian man like myself, under ordinary cir- 
cumstances. But considering she is a Princess, and the 
owner of such a wonderfully rich gold mine, I suppose 
it will have to be tolerated. 

End of Act V. 



62 eoL,UMBus. 

ACT VI. 

DEATH OF COLUMBUS. 

Scene. — A plain room in VaV ladolid' . Bed, table, and 
chairs. Hung upon the ivall conspiciwusly, the irons 
that had been put on Columbus. 

Enter Columbus — an infirm, tottering old man. And sits 
doivn on a chair by the table, and leans his head on his 
hand, 

Coluni. {Lifts his head) And this is what it all has 
come to ! [Looks sadly around the room.) 

I, who have enriched others, and poured millions of 
treasure into the coffers of Castile, have scarcely enough 
now to pay for my maintenance in this poor Inn. Until 
the noble Isabella died, I had some hope. But now even 
hope has left me; and Hope is the last to depart oftho.se 
bright angels whose presence keeps the struggling soul 
alive! Base, cruel King! who tramples on his promise! 

(Rises to his feet.) No ! I will not be satisfied with a 
mere paltry gift. I demand my legal rights. He pledged 
his Kingly word that I should be hereditary Admiral 
and Viceroy of all the lands and seas I .should discover. 
That I thus should be the founder of a great princely 
house — my sons inheriting after me, to the latest gener- 
ation of my name and blood. And now he thinks that 
he has given too much — and wants to put me off with 
a few thousand florins. — But no mere money can repay 
me. I demand my dignities and my rights! 

Enter DiEGO. 

Colum. What does he say now, Diego? What new 
excuses has he? 

Di. The King suggests the convening of a Board 
of Commissioners, specially appointed to consider all 
your Excellency's rights in the matter. 

Colum. {Derisively.) Yes — and his Majesty will ap- 
point the Commissioners. And they will take their time 
in convening. And then they will spend 5'ears in delib- 



COLUMBUS. 63 

erations. And finally they will decide that it is a ques- 
tion for the Courts. 

Di. Of course it is all for delay. As for the contract, 
it is so plain on the face of it, that it could not be made 
plainer. 

Enter the King^s Physician. 

Physiciaii. {Bowing) Your good health, senor. I 
am his Majesty's physician. And I come by his express 
commands, to see if I can be of any service to you. My 
experience in the disease which troubles you, has been 
very great indeed. 

Colum. His Majesty is always most kind in these lit- 
tle matters. Tell him I thank him. Pray be seated. 
{Both sit down.) 

Physi. May I feel your pulse, seiior? 

{Feels pulse, etc.) 

Physi. Your pulse beats far too rapidly. 

Colum. If it travels rapidly, it will get to the end of 
the journey sooner. 

Physi. Your head is too hot. 

Colinn. Yes, they have made it pretty hot for me. 
I am burning my candle of life at both ends. 

Physi. That is what I fear. You must always keep 
calm and compo.sed. Do not let trifles worry you. As 
old age comes on, excitement is always dangerous. Your 
life is precious, seiior. Your great deeds have made you 
famous. And no one is more anxious for your health 
and comfort than his Majesty. 

Colimi. {Rises, and points to the fetters) Do you see 
those beautiful ornaments, seiior? 

Physi. Do you mean those ugly fetters? 

Colum. Oh, they are not fetters. They could not be ! 
They are the costly ornaments with which his Majesty 
decorated me, in token of his gratitude for my great ser- 
vices to the crown ! 

Physi. You wrong his Majesty greatly. When he 
heard upon your arrival, what had been done to you, he 
was shocked bej^ond measure. You know that he at 
once ordered your fetters taken off, and you restored to 
freedom. 



64 COLUMBUS. 

Colum. {Excitedly) I know that those fetters were 
put on by a man who had his Majesty's full warrant. 
And I know that if his- Majesty had not at once set me 
at liberty, not only all Europe, but the very stones in the 
streets, would have cried out against him ! 

Physi. Calm yourself, seiior ! Such excitement just 
now is very dangerous to you. Let us talk on other sub- 
jects. Have I your permission to attend you daily? I 
think I can do 3^ou good? 

Colum. I shall be pleased to see you, seiior. But you 
will soon find that this disease of .mine, is not of the body, 
but of the outraged soul. Bring me from the King a 
sweet draught of Justice, and you will soon see that I am 
no longer subject to these excitements, which I know, as 
well as you, menace my life. Bring me from the King 
that great tonic, my office of Admiral. Let him order 
me for a change of air, back to my rightful position as 
\'iceroy over all the lands that are only his through me. 
.Then I shall be good for ten, perhaps twenty years 
longer ! 

Physi. {Sadly.) Over all such potent remedies I am 
powerless. 

Colum. All others are mere ditch water! This dis- 
ease of mine can have only one ending. But I have two 
sons. You are near the King. Perhaps when that end 
has come, and his heart may be a little softened, you will 
say: — Yes, the old man is gone! But, in his sons, you 
yet can do him justice. {Presses his hand to his heart) 
I know this cord may snap at any moment. 

Physi. I would gladly do as you suggest. But I dare 
not, for my position, and all that I am worth. {Smiles.) 
Even yet, it seems, you do not know the King ! 

Colum. And this too, you think he will deny me! 
Ingrate! My sons too, are to be denied their rights. It 
cannot be. The voice of the whole world will compel 
him to do them justice. Even a great King cannot set 
justice at defiance, and go unrebuked and unpunished! 
And the voice of the dead is often louder than that of 
the living. So majestic and imperious is the awful 
shadow of the dead I 

{Impressively to physician) When that time comes, 



COLUMBUS. C5 

tell the King what I have told you. Fear him not! 
Fear rather my dead hand! And tell him then further 
from me, that his injustice, and the ingratitude of men 
have l)roken my heart! — 

I have given Castile and Leon a new world; and, in 
return, they have given me a grave! {Reels and falls.) 

Oh — L,ord — receive my spirit! (Dies.) 

(Diego and physician go to hijn.) 

Di. Oh, my dear master! Thou wast the greatest 
seaman of this, or any other age ; and worn out in the 
service. That Western World shall be thy mighty mon- 
ument, enduring as the ages! 

Physi. {Rising.) Yes! it is all over! The great Ad- 
miral is dead! 

End of Play. 



.„4ff"^''Y OF CONGRESS 



